December to Remember Wines

I love holidays, and they’re on my mind, and everyone else’s, right now.  All I can think of right now is, “A December to Remember Wines,” when you reading my blog post. My message is coupled with writing and tasting wines, right here at my desk.

 

Christmas and Hanukkah Stars

I’m pretty thrilled that these two holidays have come together. My family and friends have varied backgrounds. I believe it makes the occasion exponentially enjoyable. It’s a high time for so many people in the world.

I’d often step out and into a quiet, when living in Maine’s winter wonderland. I couldn’t even hear a pin drop in my neighborhood.

I also remember the warm wishes, and my cousin Paul, who thought he was hilariously funny that night. It was still lightly snowing, and he decided to shock everyone just for fun. The party was at another cousin’s house, and they had had a pool installed earlier that year. So Paul decided to arrive, as a joke, in a bathing suit. But, it got a bit complicated, when he drove into a snow pile and had a hard time getting out. He ended up shocking himself, as he arrived in bathing trunks and egg on his face in embarrassment. The rest of us laughed at all of it…. Who does that?

 

Beginning A Wine Journey

When The Backup Singer Takes Center Stage

Malbec is one of the Bordeaux varieties, with the rest of the group. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Carmenere, join Malbec’s background and history. Malbec just adds a bit more spice, sophistication, and intrigue as a backup singer, to Cabernet Sauvignon. Then a star was born, with all the pomp and circumstance it deserves. This happened when she was imported to Mendoza, Argentine. She is akin to Diana Ross’s story, when she segued into center stage. A new star named Malbec was born, when she took that center stage in Mendoza, Argentina.

 

Malbec ~ It’s A Star, Not A Twinkle

Mendoza, Argentina created another super star variety. It was no longer going to be “oh, that other back singer,” because she had become a stunning, center stage performer. I remember those days, when a boss I had at the time was going to Mendoza to buy Malbec. I have enjoyed it since the late 90s. It’s very easy to enjoy, because it has berry character.

This Trapiche wine label has a sophistication to it. I couldn’t resist taking a picture of this wine’s label, with a silky background. It’s called Oak Cask Selected Vineyards, Malbec 2021, Mendoza, Argentina. This is from the winery, “We explore the earth by combining tradition and technology so you discover new sensations in each of our wines.” And, it’s sensational. They write about “Time Standing Still.” If I could have that wish, I’d make it stand still right now, when people are the most generous.

The winery has also taken a food and wine approach, because wine truly does belong with food to be completely appreciated. They have a chef winemaker, okay that says a lot. Sergio Casé is Trapiche’s Chief Winemaker, and he has developed “superb dishes.” He’s known to have integrated wine and food into the winery’s surrounding natural scenery. This wine is really so delicious.

 

A Center Stage Surprise From Argentina

The Bodega Artesano de Argento White Malbec 2023 is made from organic grapes, which were also grown in Argentina. The winery’s vineyards are located in the traditional region of Mendoza, in the Uco Valley. The word Artesano translates to craftswoman. And, she is an intriguing craftswoman, which turned into a national sensation. Bodegas Argento is located in the Maipú area of Mendoza’s Central Region, also situated at the foothills of the Andes. The winery was created in the late 1990s, to produce highquality, affordable Malbec. This wine is produced along with other Argentinian wines, with an eye toward international exports.

Juan Pablo was born in Mendoza and inherited his family’s philosophy of high quality grapes. The standards are high, I got that when I tasted this wine. Juan Pablo Murgia is head winemaker and agronomist. This combined duality is very common practice outside of the US. In fact, it even took time for the US time to realize this. If the right and left hands don’t come together as one, the wine won’t be balanced from the start.

This vineyard is located in the highest part of the Agrelo region, and it’s characterized by the great heterogeneity of its soils. The individuality of the grapes is more important, above all, instead of homogenizing the flavor to establish some singular personality. It’s like modern art, well, it is modern art in the bottle.

Alto Agrelo Vineyards And Wine Ethic

The people who work at the winery take great care with their vineyards and grapes, in a natural way. The best of the terroir is coupled with using oak in a precise balance, while winemakers carefully work to avoid over-extraction. Artesano Vineyards and Winery’s ‘s goal is to maintain purity, freshness, and elegance in each wine. A high standard has been set and adhered to.

This White Malbec was truly delicious, exceeding my expectations. I didn’t quite know what to expect, but found the great care taken paid off in a very pleasant wine. This white Malbec is the red grape variety. Harvesting moves very swiftly, so that winemaking delivers a white variation. And, it was simply delicious.

Off to Uruguay

Uruguay Is In The House With Traversa Sauvignon Blanc

We have a third imported Sauvignon Blanc wine, from Southern Uruguay. The Traversa family has been making wine together for four generations, now. The family practices organic and sustainable winemaking techniques, for all their wines. Sauvignon Blanc is also doing really well, even though Albariño is Uruguay’s leading white grape variety. The Familia Traversa’s Sauvignon Blanc is a wine really worth enjoying.

As for their terroir, there is a positive sea influence, which undeniably moderates temperatures during the hottest months. Weather gives Uruguayan wines a particularly fresh touch. It’s worth noting that it is located between 30° and 35° parallels, in their southern latitude, for the record. They have also had tremendous success with exporting, including to the US!  Their wines are found around the world in these countries, Brazil, Russia, Poland, Belarus, Japan, the United States, Mexico, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Paraguay. It seems the world is their oyster.

I really enjoyed this Sauvignon Blanc, as it hit its perfect Three Claws on my “Sauvignon Blanc Claw Factor.”

One Claw = Commodity SB ~ “Did I order water, Ms. Sommelier?”

• Two Claws = “This has hints of being a SB.” “I can live with it. Sometimes we only want a hint of 4-mercapto-4-methylpentan-2-one, as it allows other aromas and flavors to filter through.
• Three Claws = Perfect SB ~ “Ah, I’m back working at Robert Mondavi Winery, and having a SB from the Tokalon ‘old vines’ block. Yes!”
• Four Claws = Just off perfect, and headed toward the litter box ~ “This is like a day old litter box. I can take it, but I wish I didn’t have to. Make a note to self, ’empty that thing as soon as possible.'”
• Five Claws = It’s over the top with capsicum like 2-methoxy-3-isobutylpyrazine ~ “Call in the paramedics, I can’t breathe.”

 

My best wishes to you for the upcoming holidays.

Stay safe, and may you prosper in the new year.