I’ve always expressed my fondness for Musu. It’s just a great place for Wines, and he totally thinks out-of-the-box. The group there on the tasting nights has great camaraderie and people are willing to share their experiences in a very open and nonjudgmental fashion. Musu takes pride in that fact, so if you’re in town a short Uber or taxi from Palermo will have you there in 10 minutes. Just a wonderful spot define things to take home or enjoy while you’re in Buenos Aires. Read on ( First the actual article from Pagina 12, then a translation)

Lugares especiales

Rodolfo Reich05 de mayo de 2019

La cueva de Musu

[img]safari-reader://www.pagina12.com.ar/sites/pagina12/files/styles/width470/public/2019-05/radx016x0505x024-1_0.png?itok=1ASnat-O[/img]Pablo Mehanna
En una calle de Caballito, lejos de todo centro comercial, un vidrio tapizado disimula una cueva. Esa cueva es Mr. Wines, pequeña y particular vinoteca manejada por Fernando Musumeci. Más conocido como Musu, este fanático del vino asegura: “No intento competir con supermercados y cadenas. Acá hago otra cosa. Busco cada vino, conozco a su productor, intento entender qué quiere lograr con esa botella, por qué elige cierto estilo. Y luego paso toda esta información a mis cueveros. No me sirve que alguien venga simplemente a comprar un vino, sino que llegue con ganas de aprender, de meterse en este mundo. Así podré recomendarle luego el vino que más le va a gustar y salimos ganando los dos”, explica.

El local es simple, casi un depósito cuyas paredes muestran botellas que poco tienen que ver con lo que se encuentra en otros lados. Los vinos más conocidos brillan por su ausencia y en cambio, aparecen otros sin marketing o campañas de comunicación, con precios que arrancan en amigables $200 y suben hasta pasar los $1000. Etiquetas como Pajarito Amichu, Las Payas, Gauchezco, Flaneur, Refrán, Bad Brothers, Lui y muchos otros, con varios Malbec, pero también con Bonarda, Garnacha, Sauvignon, Barbera y muchos más varietales y cortes. Queda claro: A Mr. Wines uno no va para comprar cierto vino ya pensado de antemano, sino para dejarse guiar. Musu preguntará sobre gustos, sobre cuándo se va a consumir, dónde y con quién. A partir de esa radiografía verbal recomendará botellas de acuerdo al presupuesto que se quiera gastar. Con ciertos aires de club social, los clientes de Musu suelen conocerse, surgen amistades, participan de catas (donde dicen presente muchos de los enólogos más reconocidos del país). El lugar también organiza viajes a zonas productoras (pronto irán a Salta) e incluso ferias donde abren decenas de botellas para probar y elegir la favorita.

En un contexto donde la discusión de la compra siempre culmina en el precio, Musu cambia las reglas del juego. Acá la moneda es el conocimiento y la pasión por el vino.

Mr. Wines queda en Dr. Juan Felipe Aranguren 1078. Teléfono: 4432-4980. Horario de atención: lunes a viernes, de 9 a 13 y de 17.30 a 20; sábados, de 9 a 13

Special places

Rodolfo Reich May 05, 2019
The Cave of Musu


Pablo Mehanna

In a street of Caballito, far from any shopping center, an upholstered glass conceals a cave. That cave is Mr. Wines, a small and particular wine cellar managed by Fernando Musumeci. Better known as Musu, this wine fan says: "I do not try to compete with supermarkets and chains. Here I do something else. I look for each wine, I know its producer, I try to understand what he wants to achieve with that bottle, why he chooses a certain style. And then I pass all this information to my caverns. It does not help that someone comes simply to buy a wine, but comes with a desire to learn, to get into this world. So I can recommend the wine that you will like the most and we won both, "he explains.

The place is simple, almost a warehouse whose walls show bottles that have little to do with what is found elsewhere. The most well-known wines are conspicuous by their absence and, on the other hand, others appear without marketing or communication campaigns, with prices that start in friendly $ 200 and go up to spend $ 1000. Tags like Pajarito Amichu, Las Payas, Gauchezco, Flaneur, Refrán, Bad Brothers, Lui and many others, with several Malbec, but also with Bonarda, Garnacha, Sauvignon, Barbera and many more varietals and cuts. It is clear: Mr. Wines one does not go to buy a certain wine already thought in advance, but to be guided. Musu will ask about tastes, about when it will be consumed, where and with whom. From this verbal radiography will recommend bottles according to the budget you want to spend. With certain social club airs, Musu's clients usually get to know each other, friendships arise, they participate in tastings (where many of the most recognized winemakers in the country say). The place also organizes trips to production areas (they will soon go to Salta) and even fairs where they open dozens of bottles to try and choose the favorite.

In a context where the discussion of the purchase always culminates in the price, Musu changes the rules of the game. Here the currency is the knowledge and passion for wine.

Mr. Wines remains in Dr. Juan Felipe Aranguren 1078. Telephone: 4432-4980. Hours of operation: Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 13 p.m. and from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays, from 9 to 13

The Mr. Wines tour is in full swing now. If you have a Twitter account and would like to follow the gang along their travels many of the group are posting photos, comments etc.. This is the annual tour of Mendoza that Musu curates for his Cuervos (clients of his Wine Shop)

#MrWinesTour

Today is the second day in Mendoza.. yesterday they toured two larger facilities then met with the group of micro producers. The opportunity here is just fantastic. Musu, really has wonderful relationships with the Bodega‘s and the Producers and he is so happy to share with his clients.

Over the weekend Vinoteca Mr. Wines was one of the lead sponsors of Desafio Federal 2019 held in BsAs Sommelier‘s, Wine Specialists, Enthusiasts and Bloggers of high degree, came together to taste 92 different Malbec Wines from various regions and price points. The tasting was conducted as a blind tasting, with a professional rating scale and from the early commentary this seems to be another great event that Musu was involved in. It was a two day event starting with seminars, and finishing with the grand tasting. I’ll be back soon with all the results

https://www.logiapetitverdot.com.ar/...l-2019-malbec/

The link above is a complete recap of all wines in the event.

Once you’re in the link if you scroll down all the way to the bottom there’s a built-in translator to translate to your language of choice.

Happy reading

Link from Clarin translation below:

https://www.clarin.com/sociedad/cata...GyMJFtGp9.html

Translation:

Malbec "blind": what are the best Argentine labels

In the Federal Challenge, a group composed of amateurs and industry professionals tested 92 high-end wines. Your chosen ones

Clarín.comTo 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.

The team is at it again! Musu and some Cuervos are in Mendoza for the Premium Tasting event held at the Intercontinental. Stay tuned for the results later next week…Several members of the group visited Catena yesterday and from the looks of the photos they had opened about 20 bottles for them, some verticals. These Cuervos are just fantastic, they taste so many wines in so many settings throughout the year and bring them to you with all their knowledge through Musu’s weekly tastings which are informative and bring a sense of community among all the participants. Very unique experience to attend one of the tastings. I suggest you put it on your agenda whenever you’re seeking some of Argentina’s finest wines

See post 12 for photos


Prices are Full Suggested Retail Price for reference purposes only. Expect to pay considerably less when shopping at your wine purveyor especially at Vinoteca Mister Wines

Cyborg thanks for your question I'm happy to answer.

Years back, I was invited to a winetasting for the launch of Casarena Wines. It was held in all places, at an accountancy office in Buenos Aires. There were a select group of members of the press whom were invited, and I was an invited guest as well. During that event I met Musu whom is the proprietor of Vinoteca Mr. Wines. Since I was seated next to him during the tasting, I had the opportunity to speak with him throughout the evening and I was very impressed with his wine knowledge. I actually thought he was a member of the press; however I didn't know he was an owner of a wine shop until Gabriella Celeste, the winemaker presenting Casarena Wines that evening mentioned it. Gabriella and I go back, we knew one another from the laboratory she had worked at as an enologist in Mendoza, Eno Rolland owned by Michele Roland the influential French wine maker whom started the Clos de Siete project. A group of seven wineries with French heritage in Mendoza.



Gabriella recommended that I seek out Musu’s shop as she knew that I have an infinity with young and up and coming winemakers. Turns out that Musu does as well, he has a very close relationship with most of the winemakers in Argentina, not only young but the more established as well. His shop is an encyclopedia of all Wines Argentina and presenting there is like a band seeking the top stage in town to perform.




Bear in mind the shop typically doesn't cater to the tourist market but that of Portenos (locals of BsAs )

As I followed up with Musu over the years I've had the pleasure of attending his tastings and I have always been impressed by the way he presents Wines and their winemakers. Musu has connections throughout Mendoza and the rest of Argentina and is an influential and very well-known player in the wine business. He is extremely open at looking at wines based on their varietal composition and personality rather than by price and status. He is the most down to earth guy, and a celebrity in his own right.

When I started this thread I read a posting in page 12 (a local newspaper) that picked up Musu and his shop, so I thought I would share this needle in the haystack place with the Flyertalk community so others whom have a pure interest in wine may have the ability to learn about Musu and his shop, and perhaps attend one of his tastings. They are held weekly and sometimes more, approximately 20 to 30 people attend. All people whom have a love of wines. No pretension, no attitude, and just straight out wine and information to share. In fact, many influencers of the Argentine Wine community attend these tastings as well.

I have no association whatsoever with Vinoteca Mr. Wines, I am an importer and distributor of fine wines in the United States. It is a standalone shop and has no affiliation with any other entities.

I hope you enjoy the Cow Do and your trip to Buenos Aires