PRELUDIO ACORDE BLEND 2004
REGION: Maipù / Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza
VARIETAL COMPOSITION: 50% Malbec/ 40% Cabernet Sauvignon/ 10% Merlot
WINEMAKING: This is the top-of-the-line wine produced by Bodega Tempus Alba, a long-time Vines' favorite. Produced by the Biondolillo family in Maipù , is aged for 15 months in new oak, 90% French and 10% American.
TASTING NOTES: Drinking Acorde with a meal is like waking up to enjoy cherry jam on fresh popovers, straight out of the oven. But it's better enjoyed in the evening! Cordialed aromas lead to a palate full of mature dark fruit and lovely soft tannins.
FOOD PAIRING: An ideal pairing for a baked holiday ham
DRINKING GUIDE: Drink through 2013
TRAZOS DE AUTOR SAUVIGNON BLANC 2007
REGION: Vista Flores, Uco Valley, Mendoza
VARIETAL COMPOSITION: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
WINEMAKING: This wine is made by Bodega Anphora, from grapes grown in rocky soil at an altitude of almost 4,000 feet and rigorously cared for. It undergoes an extended fermentation process at low temperatures called "pure tone" because it allows the wine to absorb all the bright fruit and subtle flavor of the grapes.
TASTING NOTES: Lovely from start to finish, this wine is the color of white gold spun in the glass, with a crisp nose full of citrus and hints of Sauvignon Blanc's typical qualities of grass and grapefruit. The palate is balanced and racy with a lingering acidity on the finish. This is one of the most varietaly-pure Sauvignon Blancs being produced in Mendoza.
FOOD PAIRING: Gazpacho
DRINKING GUIDE: Drink now.
LORCA POETICO 2004
REGION: Vista Flores, Tunuyán, Mendoza
VARIETAL COMPOSITION: 85% Malbec, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Syrah
WINEMAKING: Celebrated Argentine winemaker, Mauricio Lorca, strives to create wines that personify the natural elements and terroir of Mendoza. Each varietal is handpicked and fermented separately to focus on their individual characteristics. They are then blended together and aged for 12 months in new French oak barrels to create a wine of distinction. This vintage was aged for 12 months in new French oak barrels.
TASTING NOTES: Like a flamboyant muscle car, this wine has an engine with power. Rugged with earthy plum, currant and a splash of roasted coffee, it is bright and racy on the mouth with plenty of verve and acid to complement the concentrated chocolate covered cherries, plums and hint of smoke that races to the strong finish.
FOOD PAIRING: Grilled peppercorn crusted sirloin
DRINKING GUIDE: Prepare for a fiesta with these two bottles...drink now.
LA AZUL RESERVA 2004
REGION: Tupungato, Valle de Uco, Mendoza
VARIETAL COMPOSITION: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Malbec
WINEMAKING: Only 10,000 bottles of this wine were made in this tiny modern bodega in Tupungato. The winemaking team consists of only 2 people- female winemakers Flavia Monterola and her assistant, who is currently studying enology in Mendoza. Grown and vinified at 1,200 meters, or almost 4,000 feet, this wine is produced at a higher altitude than any other wine from Mendoza in our February Acequia Club offering.
TASTING NOTES: From start to finish, this highly seductive wine is a mosaic of perfectly proportioned elements. The color is a deep garnet you can barely see through, and the wine is rich, elegant and full of finesse. Your nose will be mystified by the deep floral aromas with a suggestion of cinnamon and your palate overcome by flavors of red fruit, cola, spice infused tea and ripe plum.
FOOD PAIRING: Wild mushroom ragout- the complexity of this wine is best balanced by earthy flavors
DRINKING GUIDE: We recommend drinking by 2012 for prime enjoyment.
OTELLO RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2006
REGION: Perdriel, Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza
VARIETAL COMPOSITION: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
WINEMAKING: The driving philosophy behind Bodega Sottano is that remarkable results derive from great care in small details, and they set out to prove this. Grapes are hand picked and then each bunch and grain is individually sorted. The wine is aged for 12 months in young oak which helps it to find the perfect equilibrium of flavor.
TASTING NOTES: This elegant Cabernet Sauvignon gives a rich bouquet of mint, coffee beans, and bitter chocolate along with ripe plumb jam. Full bodied yet refined on the palate, the balance of extracted fruit and finely structured oak tannins make it one of Mendoza's best Cabernets.
FOOD PAIRING: Beef Wellington
DRINKING GUIDE: Drink Now through 2011
POESIA BLEND 2002
Poesía follows the standards and traditions of French grand cru vineyards. They harvest grapes from old non-grafted vineyards, select only the best grapes, and then age to perfection in new French oak barrels for 18 to 20 months. Artful and elegant, this wine presents a rich perfume of ripe blackberries, blueberries, tar and black cherries. This blend is stylized with fine flavor concentration and focused on the finish with great length and richness.