In the Federal Challenge, a group composed of amateurs and industry professionals tested 92 high-end wines. Your chosen ones
Clarín.com
To taste
a wine blind is to let the palate choose
without prejudice : without previous information about what is tasted, what the senses command. This exercise was put into practice during the last Federal Challenge, the event that annually brings together industry professionals and amateurs who attend thematic seminars and tastings. In the 2019 edition, dedicated to
Malbec and held at the NH Collection Hotel in Buenos Aires,
110 people participated in the tasting of 92 high-end labels produced in
seven Argentine provinces : Mendoza, Salta, San Juan, La Rioja, Tucumán , Neuquén and Córdoba.
Unlike other competitions or competitions, on this occasion scores were not assigned, but
each participant chose the wine that he liked best from each batch. The rounds were organized by price bands. "In each of the tables there were consumers with at least one winemaker, agronomist or winemaker, which encouraged the exchange and a more enriching debate," said Francisco Rivero Segura, organizer of the event.
Covered labels: this is how the bottles for Malbec's blind tasting of the 2019 Federal Challenge were served.
The Malbec chosen
From $ 350 up to $ 600.
We tasted 28 labels with an average price of $ 482.
1. Kaiken Ultra Malbec 2017 (Kaiken Winery, Mendoza) - $ 576
Made in Los Chacayes, P. Altamira and Gualtallary. Composition: 100% Malbec.Aging: 12 months in French oak barrels, 30% new barrels. Winemaker: Rogelio Rabino.
2. Sunal Ilógico Malbec 2017 (Agustín Lanús Wines, Salta) - $ 550
Calchaquí Valley, Salta. Composition: 100% Malbec. Bred 50% in neutral barrels and in cement eggs for 15 months. Winemaker: Agustín Lanús.
3. Piatelli Gran Reserva Luján de Cuyo 2016 (Bodega Piatelli, Mendoza) - $ 590.
Composition: 100% Malbec. Aging: 12 months in French and American oak barrels.Winemaker: Valeria Antolín.
4. Laureano Gómez Reserva 2017 (Bodega Laureano Gómez, Mendoza) - $ 550.
5 - Finca Sophenia Reserve Malbec 2017(Finca Sophenia, Mendoza) - $ 500.
6. Andeluna Altitude Malbec 2016 (Bodega Andeluna Argentina, Mendoza) - $ 485.
7. Casir Dos Santos Reserve 2015 (Casir Dos Santos Winery, Mendoza) - $ 400.
8. Thousand Winds Raised in Barrel 2016(Bodega Merced del Estero, San Juan) - $ 575.
Malbec San Juan, Mendoza and Rioja at the podium of the 2019 Federal Challenge.
From $ 610 to $ 840
We tasted 32 labels with an average price of $ 725.
1. Graffigna Vesparo 2017 (Bodega Graffigna, San Juan) - $ 820.
Pedernal Valley, San Juan. Composition: 100% Malbec. Aging: Only a small part of the wine went through barrels as microvinifications.Winemakers: Ignacio López and María Paula Gonzalez.
2. Zuccardi Q Malbec 2017 (Bodega Zuccardi, Mendoza) - $ 670.
Vistaflores & Paraje Altamira, Mendoza.Composition: 100% Malbec. Aging: In barrels and concrete pools. Winemaker: Sebastián Zuccardi.
3. The Puerta Reserva Malbec 2016 (Bodega Valle de la Puerta, La Rioja) - $ 679.
Valley of Famatina, La Rioja. Composition: 100% Malbec. Aging: 6 months in oak barrels.Winemaker: Javier Collovati.
4. Altos La Ciénaga Reserve 2016 (Altos la Ciénaga, Tucumán) - $ 700.
5. Lui Gran Reserva 2015 (Lui Wines, Mendoza) - $ 820.
6. Casarena Single Vineyard Naoki Malbec 2017 (Casarena Winery, Mendoza) - $ 749.
7. Alpamanta Estate 2012 (Alpamanta Estate, Mendoza) - $ 670.
8. Tikal Amorío 2015 (Ernesto Catena Vineyards, Mendoza) - $ 730.
Two Malbec from Mendoza and one from Salta were the ones who liked the most in one of the blind tastings of the 2019 Federal Challenge.
From $ 845 up to $ 1,280
We tasted 16 labels with an average price of $ 1,006.
1. Heart of the Sun Gran Reserva Malbec 2015 (Corazón del Sol, Mendoza) - $ 1,200.
The Chacayes, Mendoza. Composition: 100% Malbec. Aging: 18 months in French oak barrels Enologist: Cristian Moor.
2 - Piatelli Malbec Limited Edition Animaná 2015 by Bodega Piatelli Cafayate - Salta - $ 980
Animaná, Salta.Composition: 100% Malbec.Aging: 12 months in French oak barrels Winemaker: Alejandro Nesman.
3 - Angelica Zapata Malbec 2015 by Catena Zapata - Mendoza - $ 1270.
Lunlunta, Agrelo, Altamira & Gualtallary, Mendoza. Composition: 100% Malbec. Aging: 18 months in French oak barrels Winemaker: Alejandro Vigil
4. Gimenez Riili Gran Familia Malbec 2014 (Bodega Gimenez Riili, Mendoza) - $ 1,185.
5. Bramare Apellation Valle de Uco 2016(Viña Cobos, Mendoza) - $ 1,150.
6. Notable Malbec 2016 farms (Bodega El Esteco, Salta) - $ 926.
7. Gauchezco Oro Gualtallary 2014 (Bodega Gauchezco, Mendoza) - $ 1,020.
8. Malbec 2017 puzzle (Finca Beth, Mendoza) - $ 850.
From $ 1,300 to $ 3,950
We tasted 16 labels with an average price of $ 1,727.
1. Susana Balbo Signature The Delfina Paraje Altamira Limited Edition 2014 (Susana Balbo Wines, Mendoza) - $ 2,525.
Paraje Altamira, Mendoza. Composition: 100% Malbec. Aging: 14 months in French oak barrels. Enologist: Susana Balbo.
2. Renacer R Malbec 2015 (Bodega Renacer, Mendoza) - $ 1,645.
65% The Consultation and 35% of Perdriel, Mendoza. Composition: 100% Malbec. Aging: 24 months in French oak barrels. Winemaker: Lucas Amoretti.
3. Achaval Ferrer Finca Mirador 2014 (Bodega Achaval Ferrer, Mendoza) - $ 3,950)
Medrano, Mendoza. Composition: 100% Malbec. Aging: 15 months in French oak barrels. Winemaker: Gustavo Rearte.
4. Tempus VERo. 2015 (Tempus Alba, Mendoza) - $ 2,121.
5. Gran Estirpe Malbec 2015 (Clos de Chacras, Mendoza) - $ 1, .380
6. Altupalka Malbec Extreme 2015 (Bodega Altupalka, Salta) - $ 1,330.
7. First Viñas Malbec Luján de Cuyo 2015(Bodega Lagarde, Mendoza) - $ 1,500.
8. Altocedro Finca los Inmigrantes 2016(Bodega Altocedro, Mendoza) - $ 1,500.