Argentina red wine – THE DUDE OF FOOD

Bodega ELENA de Mendoza 2010 Red Blend

This family of fine wine is named after the matriarch who came from Italy, Elena Napoli.

Bodega ELENA de Mendoza Argentina

2010 RED BLEND

62% Malbec 21% Syrah 17% Bonarda

This family has developed some of my top wines from Argentina. The Malbec and the Red Blend from Bodega Elena de Mendoza are my favorites.

According to wikipedia, the “legs” or “tears” of wine that run down the inside of the wine glass are a sign of low alcohol. The heavier the legs, the lower the alcoholic content of the wine. If this is in fact true, then these wines are low in alcohol and big in flavor.

This Red Blend, like it’s sister Malbec, are loaded with solid flavors. Not too sweet.

Not too dry, but just right. These wines will slowly undress for your tongue, landing softly, pleasure your taste buds and leave you wanting another sip.

Priced under $10.

MALBEC Review – Espuela del Gaucho Reserve 2012

This tasty limited edition Malbec was also grown and bottled in the Mendoza region of Argentina.

Imported by WX Imports, Novato, CA

www.espueladelgaucho.com

Another fine Malbec that is now on my Top 5 Malbec list. Not as good as my favorite, Bodega de ELENA, but gets close. This wine is a 2012, so maybe it needs a year, but still was a very good selection.

The Espuela del Gaucho has unique, slow running, heavy legs. It carries a lighter body, landing gently on the tongue, joyfully leaving hints of mixed berries grown in the fresh Andes air and then drifts away.

Another quality Malbec, that any California cab or Merlot drinker would enjoy for under $12.

Malbec – TERRAZAS de los Andes 2010

Another fine wine from the Mendoza region nestled in Argentina.

TERRAZAS de los Andes Reserva Malbec 2010

Produced and bottled by Terrazas de los Andes, Argentina

Selected grapes of the Mendoza region terraces, found a little more than 1,000 meters above sea level, make their way into this wine. The selectivity of this wine is probably why it is imported by the Moet Hennessy company.

Personally, this wine is almost as good as my still favorite Malbec, Bodega de ELENA. The Terrazas is kind of similar to the Elena, but I found it to be a touch lighter in body and flavor when landing on the tongue. The Terrazas is flowery and fruity. Perhaps the Terrazas could be imagined as a merlot version of the Elena if it were imagined as a cabernet of the same vinter.

The Terrazas is a good wine, reasonably priced and will be gone before the bottles of Mondavi that other people brought to the party.

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Malbec – Espuela Del Gaucho 2011

Product of Argentina.

The Dude of Food Wine Review — Espuela Del Guacho

Imported by WX Imports, Novato , CA

www.espueladelguacho.com

This low priced gaucho Malbec tastes more like the boot sweat of a gaucho.

I may have gotten a bad bottle, but this was my least favorite of

the bottles tasted by the Dude of Food.

Malbec – Cupcake 2011

Grown in Mendoza, Argentina.

Imported by Cupcake Vineyards, Livermore, CA

Grown at 2,400 feet under the shadow of the snow covered Andes mountains,

this Mendoza region wine is more talk than action. The flavors mentioned on

the back of the label mention flavors of plums, raspberries and a dark chocolate

flour less cupcake. Really?

Priced in the reasonable to cheap category, but you get what you pay for in this case.

Prefer the Sensual or Robert Mondavi over this Cupcake.

Malbec – Redwood Creek 2011

Raised in Mendoza, Argentina

Imported by Redwood Creek Winery, Modesto, CA

www.redwoodcreek.com

I wanted to like this wine but felt it was just not quite as good as the Robert Mondavi PS ’11 or Sensual ’12. Not sure why. Same grape, same region, same year.

This wine’s taste was much like the Sensual and Mondavi but there was a slight shift that did not work in the Redwood Creek’s favor. The price is about the same so if I had my option, I’d choose the others.

Malbec – Robert Mondavi Private Selection 2011

Mendoza, Malbec Product of Argentina

Imported by CWUS Imports, Acampo, CA

Another reasonably priced, Mendoza raised wine. This tastes very similar to the Sensual 2012 used as my Malbec standard to compare the other wines.

Grapey, but not overly. OK. Not sweet. Kind of flat. Short tongue life. On the heavy side ala a Cabernet Sauvignon.

Malbec – SENSUAL 2012

Produced & bottled by Valentin Bianchi, Mendoza, Argentina

Imported by Quintessential LLC, Napa

www.quintessentialwines.com

Reasonably priced, nicely painted and cheesily named, this Mendoza raised wine is the Malbec the Dude of Food used as my standard to compare the other wines.

Grapey, but not overly. OK. Not sweet. Kind of flat. Short tongue life. On the heavy side ala a Cabernet Sauvignon.