QOTD – I have always like the Montes Alpha series. They have been classic values. Most recent screaming value has been the Ricardo Santos Malbec. Hard to find now because the importer in my part of the world went defunct.

Chocalan and chocolate??? Who doesn’t like a good unity wine, cheers to Chile the next great frontier.

QOTD: Achaval Ferrer Quimera without a doubt.

Chocalan and chocolate??? Who doesn’t like a good unity wine, cheers to Chile the next great frontier.

QOTD: Achaval Ferrer Quimera without a doubt.

Go ahead and rip the down-under fruit bombs. Favorite SA vino- Marques de Casa Concha Cab by Concha Y Toro for 16 bucks its hard to beat.

QOTD: Being a wine newbie, I haven’t had many Malbecs yet (you got me trying so many other kinds of wine). The best one I’ve had so far is the Susana Balbo Malbec 2004. It wasn’t over oaked and was the 1st Malbec where I could taste flavors on the midpalate. In the sub $10 range, I really like the Doña Paula Los Cardos Malbec – very fresh plum aspect, a quaffing wine.

On the second place prize…is it just the iPhone or the iPhone with like a year of service prepaid?
I’m just saying….paying for the service is the “azzzzkikr”

QOTD; My favorite South American wine? I would have to say the next one I have…after watching Episode #359…

2004 Montes Alpha Syrah…….

and 2003 Don Melchor, come on Gary…it was awesome and I shared it with my best friend after a few rounds of beer pong.

Believe it or not, the Montes cab from Chile with a little carmenere in it–incredible stuff for $10-12 or thereabouts.

QOTD: I’ll pick one out of many that I enjoyed a whole lot – 2002 Familia Rutini Malbec La Consulta, I think I paid $13 for it. The 2002 Bodegas Catena Malbec Mendoza was stupid good too for about $17.

QOTD: can’t remember… I guess my memory is shot because I DROPPED ONE OF MY WINELIBRARY wines that just came in today via FedEx!!! AARGGHH!! I’ve never dropped a bottle of anything in 40+ years… and it had to be something I really wanted. 🙁

GREAT EPISODE!!! BRING THE NEW CHAMPAGNE/SPARKLING WINE SOON PLEASE!

QOTD: MAN That’s tough. My father is from Chile so we’ve had a lot! I do love the Montes Alpha Cabernet as a standard. But my current favorite, and one that I really wanted to recommend to you is the Maquis Lien. I know you guys don’t carry it but in Chicago it is about $13 or so 50% Syrah, 23 Carmenere, 12 Cabernet Franc, 8 Petit Verdot, 7 Malbec.

Now I love me some Chilean Cabernet Sav. and do i love them! But this is fantastic, and to see Syrah pull such a huge load from Chile is a big suprise, the PV is in there, the blend is real strong. I’m a big fan. If you don’t seek it out I’m probably going to have to send you a bottle!

And of course I don’t want to forget the Tikal Patriota, big malbec a little bonarda. Great blend from Susana Balbo (the Ben Marco Malbec is also awesome…) though I’m still sticking with Maquis Lien

Great show. I’ve had some incredible Argentine wines, but most of them made by smaller producers that don’t have much visibility outside Argentina (I’ve spent a bit of time in Buenos Aires). Haven’t had the same luck with Chile, but imagine that the stuff we get here is also not their best.

Some of my recent favorites are

2003 Lagarde “Henry” Cabernet Franc
2003 Ernesto Catena “Tahuan” Syrah

Both very old world, balanced and elegant – incredibly well made.

Tahuantinsuya (Tahuan) is a great small label owned by Enesto Catena (son of the famed Nicolas Catena). Everything he makes is great (Malbec, Cab, Syrah and Merlot single varietals) but, again, not easy to find outside Argentina.

Great episode! Alway waiting for episodes of Argentinian wines, since i’m from there.
QOTD: Don Melchor!! Just kidding (but i honestly think that’s the best wine from South America)….Catena Alta is probably my favorite Argentinian wine these days (although is pricey). Under the $25 my favorites are the Colome (they alo have a reserve, which is outstanding), the Altos Las Hormigas Malbec Reserve and the Montes Alpha Syrah.

Great episode Gary!
I’m always looking for value & quality, I like well made wines & I’ve had found many values in Argentina, Chile, Spain & even France from the less known appellations. One of the best wines I’ve had so far from South America is Don Melchor cabernet sauvignon single vineyard (with 5% cab franc) it runs for about $35.00 a bottle but it is great it’s got nice dusty black berry components, cassis, chocolate and well integrated tannins its lusciousness it’s exquisite. I’ve also had syrah from Montes Alpha, Cabernet from Lapostolle and several Melbecs including a single vineyard from Altamira with very low yields less than a pound per vine this wine runs for about $65.00 but it is incredible. I just got a part-time at a wineshop just to be near wine and get wines at cost lol.

as always salud!

Serggi

Great Episode Gary, Love your show, been watching for a few months but this is my first time posting.

QOTD: 2004 Veramonte Primus, 90+ point Chilean Blend for about $15. Also very fond of the 2006 Alamos Malbec, a great great value.

I am a big fan of Chillian Cabernet and love Don Melchor. Gary nailed it by calling out Napa, I have had many cabs from Chilli that where the same quality of Napa at half the cost.

QOTD Don Melchor is good, but if you want a much more expressive cab that accentuates the terrior try domus aurea. The rothschild and concha y toro joint venture, Almaviva 2001 vintage was exquisite. The best south american wine Ive had would definately either be Escorihuela Gascon Don Miguel from Argentina(not the one sold here in the US) and Carmin de Peumo, concha y toro’s new Carmenere premium wine.

This reminds me that I need to revisit south American wines.

Very good show Gary! I will watch out for the 2004 Vina Chocalan Gran Reserva here in Germany!

QOTD: I think it was the 1998 Sena or the 1999 Almaviva.

QOTD: Ben Marco 2004 Malbec (Mendoza Argentina)

QOTD: 1999 Campo Viejo Gran Reserva -$13 Just drank it this year and it was so silky and fruit bomby yet, structured and balanced. It is gone now and the 2000 is a shadow of the ’99. Now I am sad thinking about it. But I will be happy to try the ’04 Vina Chocolan GR.

Went winery hopping over thanksgiving, Chehalem whites and Pinot Noir is all I can say. WOW.

QOTD: I haven’t had much access to south american wines here in France. But this past summer when I was still in the states I went to a tasting and really enjoyed the Catena Zapata malbec that they were pouring. I went out later that day and bought a bottle for a nice $11. Great show by the way

Qotd : Luca Syrah !!! Try Some It’s good stuff . I’ll try to find that last wine you had sounds great !!!