The Wines of This Week's Tasting:
Chilean and Argentine Reds
January 8, 2025
Red
2020 El Enemigo Cabernet Franc, Mendoza Argentina
Malbec may be Argentina's signature red grape, but cabernet franc might be its finest. Adriana Catena, daughter of Catena's Nicholas Catena, and its winemaker, Alejandro Vigil, have teamed up to make this elegant, powerful, pure, finely delineated example.
Aroma: cassis, ripe currants, sweet spices including black pepper and cloves. Integrated are subtle oak tones of cedar and vanilla. Mouth: Notes of dark plum, red currant, and pomegranate with hints of allspice and peppercorns. Fine-grained tannins and great structure lead to a balanced finish. Very Good Plus $29.99, Case $25.49
2021 Terranoble Azara Carmenere Valle del Maule, Chile
A federal favorite for several years - Originally from Bordeaux, where very little is now grown after phylloxera, Carmenere was rediscovered in Chile masquerading as Merlot. Many less able wineries bottle theirs with green, unripe notes. Not so Terranoble; given air, it blooms deep, dark, and full, living up to Carmenere's nickname "St. Emilion in one grape." Maule Valley's high altitude rich volcanic soils give this wine optimum ripeness.
Aroma: Fresh blackberry fruit, dark plum, peppery floral aromatics, and toasted barrel. Mouth: Blackberry fruit, plums, chile spice with a hint of dark chocolate, round tannins, good acidity, and persistent finish. Very Good Plus - Great Value $19.99, Case $16.99
Alandes Paradoux Version VII, Mendoza Argentina
Multi-grape -the five of Bordeaux, multi-vintage - 2013, 2014, 2015, and multi-region - four along the Andes, this wine is a parallel to Bordeaux that is as suave as its model and more delicate and complex than Bordeaux at anywhere near its price. Blending over terroir, it amply demonstrates the skills of Karim Mussi od famed Altocedro. We love it.
Aroma: head sweet and intense, older mature, intense; Mouth: bright intense, higher toned, very clean pretty, finely delineated, elegant; Very Good - Excellent $26.99; Case, $22.99
2020 Clos de Luz Cabernet Sauvignon Massal 1945, Chachapaul Valley Chile
It is as pure and clean as its almost natural wine-making indicates. The small family-run estate in more southern Chile is organic and biodynamic and uses no chemicals and very little sulfur 1945 refers to the year the vines were planted. The wine is full, round, and very satisfying, great for cold weather stews.
Aroma: plummy & deep, bright acid full, wood notes around light cedary fruit, firm; Mouth: clean, edgy, some good bright fruit, graphite structure, firm on the finish; Very Good Plus $23.99; Case, $19.99
Two Malbecs
Both are from Uco Valley but have two different styles. Both are excellent, each in its way. The Catena from the town of la Consulta is velvety light, fragrant and nuanced. The Zuccardi is more powerful and assertive.
2021 Catena Malbec La Consulta Uco Valley Argentina
Color: vary dark purplish; Aroma: at first reserved fine but opens to a lithe and spicy with a light cinnamon-clove note; Mouth: light clean and lithe firm structure, sweet fruit clean long, sweet-acid finish; Very Good Plus $28.99; Case, $24.99
2022 Zuccardi Malbec Serie Q Uco Valley Argentina
Color: very dark purple opaque; Aroma: heady, deeply laden spiced plum, slight herbal-wood note; Mouth: bright bodied, dense, spicy fruit over a fine cid tannin, subtle wood spice on the finish; Very Good Plus $23.99; Case, $19.99
South American Summer Case 2 bottles each of these wines. $268 (22.33a bottle)
Or mix your own case\; any twelve bottles at their case prices
Order by phone at 617.367.8605, or reserve here: order@federalwine.com
Please pass this on to any friends who are wine enthusiasts!
- Len Rothenberg
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