A different and interesting selection of argentine wines, and all available in Quebec!

By Marina La Forgia

During my visit to the last edition of La Grande Degustation de Montreal, one of the biggest tasting events in town, I had the opportunity to taste some Argentine wines that I consider different to what we are used to seeing in Quebec. Some of them are hidden gems that need to show off in order to move forward with the typical image of Malbec or the "good and cheap" red wines.

I have said it on countless occasions: The Argentine wine is a plenty world to discover because of the diverse wine regions we may find in an only country and because we can find almost all varieties from all over the world!

In this list, my favorite ones and the reason why I chose them:

La Chaya Torrontes Bodega La Riojana

My choice: BECAUSE IS A GENUINE TORRONTES "RIOJANO"

Martin Palacio, from La Riojana

A fresh white wine from the particular Torrontés Riojano variety with a very nice and delicate floral perfume. This is a great white wine, very elegant to enjoy as an aperitif, at a very affordable price. An it is from La Rioja, a still relatively unknown wine region.

Luigi Bosca Gala 3 White: Viognier - Chardonnay - Riesling

My choice: BECAUSE IS AN UNIQUE BLEND OF THREE VARIETIES THAT GROW PRETTY WELL IN MENDOZA

Luigi Bosca's wines

Made mostly from viognier, this is an Argentine white wine of high quality. On the nose, it proliferates on notes of white fruit and flowers such as jasmine. On the palate, it is unctuous and enveloping. Delicate and seductive. Tasting it was a true delight.  Luigi Bosca, thanks to the Gala brand line allows us to discover that Argentine wines are generally strong and corpulent ... but they can also be very stylish!

Alfredo Roca Dedicacion Personal Sauvignon Blanc

My choice: BECAUSE SAUVIGNON BLANC FROM ARGENTINA ARE NOT VERY KNOWN; AND SOUTH OF MENDOZA (SAN RAFAEL), HAS THE BEST WEATHER FOR THIS VARIETY

I must confess that I like all the wines from this winery. But this sauvignon blanc has caught my attention and captivated my palate because it is a wine with a very intense and pleasant freshness. This variety is famous for its citrus and herbal notes. In this case, because it grows well in the terroir of southern Mendoza, it is a wine that also offers very immersive and refreshing minty, mineral and floral notes. The Alfredo Roca Sauvignon Blanc is a wine I invite you to discover ...

Premium Torrontés Bodega La Rosa

My choice: BECAUSE BESIDES BEING A VERSATILE EXPONENT OF A TRUE TORRONTES, THE LABEL HAS AN INNOVATIVE AND WELL FOCUSED MARKETING

Cafayate Valley is perhaps the region that Quebec consumers knows a little bit more thanks to torrontés variety. This wine from Bodega La Rosa is a typical and versatile example. The nose is fragrant and floral, but also some notes of spice and ripe fruit are highlighted. The palate is dry, smooth and refreshing. This is a Premium wine, with a certain delicacy and elegance.

But, honestly, what I liked about this wine is its label with the mention D.O.T. (Diversity of Terroir) which is exactly what makes the difference today among the wines in Argentina but all over the world: the uniqueness of each terroir, each soil and each plot. The challenge is to become “the” distinctive point in the vastness of the offer ...

Fuego Blanco Malbec-Syrah 2013 Bodega Los Toneles - Valle del Pedernal – San Juan

My choice: BECAUSE IT IS AN INTERESTING BI-VARIETAL AND BECAUSE SAN JUAN REGION IS A TREASURE TO DISCOVER

Not everybody knows about the high quality of the wines from San Juan. It was a pleasure seeing this winery in the fair, winery that has its own vineyards in this exceptional wine region: The Pedernal Valley. As it says on the label, the vines are bordered by natural rivers that give the soil a particular essence between minerality and earthy. The warm temperatures allow the grapes to mature to its best, so this Malbec-Syrah wine is an explosion of plum, leather and spices with a great character and persistence. A different, very balanced and pleasant wine.

Emma Zuccardi Bonarda 2014 

My choice: BECAUSE BONARDA IS A VARIETY THAT I FOLLOW CLOSELY IN ARGENTINA

One of the most popular wineries in the Argentinean pavilion: Zuccardi wines have won the palate of the Quebec consumer. But I wanted to go beyond what is already known about this Mendoza producer, so I chose to taste a wine from a medium-high range from a variety that in Argentina has its splendor. On the nose, this Bonarda is a delight of red fruit marmalade, with subtle notes of cinnamon and vanilla. On the palate, the fruitiness persists, it is rounded, friendly and unctuous. A very good and generous wine. Zuccardi is a pioneer in the diversity of grapes and has been always incorporating new trends.

Alfredo Roca Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

My choice: BECAUSE ARGENTINE CABERNET SAUVIGNON HAS A GREAT EXPRESSION TO BE FEATURED AS MUCH AS THE MALBEC

Alejandro Roca, introducing his wines

Although it is a young wine, this Cabernet Sauvignon from Alfredo Roca allows us already to distinguish its quality and elegance. This variety, in Mendoza in general and in the south of the province in particular, is very fruity, but it has also some vegetable, spicy and animal hints. In nose it feels the red fruit jam, but obviously there are notes of pepper, cloves and leather. In the mouth, I felt that the tannins were still present, but in the end, is equilibrated and well structured. A wine with a captivating personality. I invite you to taste Argentine Cabernets, because they have a great potential.

Alma Negra M Blend 2014 Ernesto Catena

My choice: BECAUSE IT IS AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF WHAT THE ALTITUDE OF UCO VALLEY CAN DO WITH THE WINES.

Ernesto Catena, and on top, his wine

Last but not least, this is blend of Malbec and Bonarda that you can’t miss. The Malbec typical aromas predominate but are well integrated with the Bonarda notes with extreme delicacy. It has a bouquet of berries, violets and some minty notes that make it very seductive. On the palate, it is bodied, silky and very balanced. Alma Negra wines have the prestige and reputation stamp of Catena signature and are indeed a warranty of Argentine quality wines. This blend is carefully made with grapes from vineyards in the Uco Valley, which is in my opinion one of the best terroirs to produce intense wines, but also elegant and subtle. This elixir is fortunately very affordable; it does not cost more than 21 dollars ...