(bump)

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A new player of interest has entered the Argentine Sparkling Wine Market. Bodega Cruzat Larrain just launched their first three wines, Cruzar Brut, Cruzat Rose and Cruzat Nature.

All three Sparklers are 100% methode Champenoise, and have a very interesting style, each label with its own personality.

Any idea of the price Gaucho100K compared to the others?

The Cruzat sparklers are in the same price bracket as the mid-range Baron B wines. The Cruzat Brut is AR$60 per bottle, and the Rose & Nature go for AR$65 per bottle. This is aprox USD20 per bottle.

Many thanks for the info Gaucho100K.^

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Hiddy, another name for you to consider (in a similar price bracket) is Alma4, made by Zuccardi.

I'm taking notes, don't worry Gaucho100K.

I thought it would be a good idea to list a couple of suggestions for wines that are solid performers in the price bracket of USD15-20ish per bottle. Im setting the upper price limit at AR$65. I will list a few labels in each major wine category:

All prices in AR$ (pesos) per bottle, current as of 03/2008** - current FX rate is approx. AR$3.18 = US$1.00

Sparkling Wines:
Ernesto Catena Alma Negra Espumante NV / AR$65
Baron B Extra Brut NV / AR$49
Baron B Nature 2004 / AR$60
Cruzat Larrain Brut NV / AR$60
Cruzat Larrain Rose NV / AR$65
Cruzat Larrain Nature NV / AR$65

White Wines:
Clara Benegas Chardonnay 2007 / AR$32
Rutini Colleccion Chardonnay 2007 / AR$56
Lavaque Quara Reserva Torrontes 2007 / AR$39
Banfi Cinco Tierras Torrontes 2007 / AR$40
Escorihuela Gascon Sauvignon Blanc 2006 / AR$38

Red Wines (varietals):
Juan Benegas Malbec 2005 / AR$32
La Azul Malbec Ed. Limitada 2004 / AR$49
Escorihuela Gascon Cabernet 2005 / AR$43
Ernesto Catena Tahuan Malbec 2005 / AR$55
Ernesto Catena Tahuan Cabernet 2004 / AR$55
Benegas Sangiovese 2005 / AR$65
Benegas Syrah 2005 / AR$65
DV Catena Syrah Syrah 2004 / AR$50

Red Wines (blends):
La Azul Reserva Blend 2004 / AR$75
Escorihuela Gascon Syrah Malbec 2004 / AR$40
Don Tiburcio Benegas 2005 / AR$40
Rutini Cabernet Malbec 2005 / AR$55
Viña Qaramy Pachahuasi 2005 / AR$55
Domaine St. Diego PuraSangre 2003 / AR$65

Excellent, Gaucho200k... tasting notes would be appreciated for the best buys.

I thought that I'd bump up this thread with a few of the better Argentine wine values that I've had recently here in California - some of these I tried in Mendoza during my visit a few months ago, others I only tried once I started hunting for great values in Argentine wines back home:

Top Tier Stuff:

Mendel Unus 2005 - selling for < $37 at Costco - great, ageworthy stuff

Achaval Ferrer 2005 Quimera. This was the best wine I tasted in Argentina
I preferred it to their single vineyard Malbecs that cost over 2X as much.
I lugged 3 bottles back in my luggage, only to find that it's widely
available here in California, for $30-40 a bottle.


Almost as good, superb values:

Clos de los Siete 2006. Widely available in CA for $15-18 A great wine
at a genuinely great price - This wine is comparable to $60-75 Pomerols

Melipal 2005 Malbec. A really high quality Malbec for around $15


Really Cheap stuff that's surprisingly good:

La Boca 2007 Malbec. $2.99 at Trader Joes - FAR better than any of the
well known 2 Buck Chucks. The cheapest decent wine I've had in years.

Fantelli 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon. a SHOCKINGLY good $5 Cabernet

And, for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, where summer is now upon us:

Susana Balbo Rose is a terrific wine. About $12-14 a bottle. As good as most any other Rose I drink regardless of price point. It has also gotten good attention on some well informed wine lists.

For reds, the Punto Final Reserva has also been terrific, from the bottles I've had over the past few months.

Just because it's summer doesn't mean one needs to drink pigmentally challenged wines.

Glad to read there continue to be more and more Argentine wine fans on FT.... ^

Updating this thread to include a few new labels that I suggest looking at:

- Ricomenciare Malbec/Cabernet Franc
- Ricomenciare Altissimo Cabernet Franc
- Ricomenciare Altissimo Malbec
- Durigutti Familia Malbec Reserve
- Durigutti Malbec

I agree - this is a spectacular wine for its price. I just ordered up another case from K&L here in northern California - $29.99 + tax. I see online that the 2006 vintage is 25% more expensive (although I've not found a bottle yet locally).

The 2005 still appears to be widely available throughout the US - a true steal!

John