This month, I tried two spectacular wines from Argentina! Argentina is the 6th largest wine producing country in the world and with good reason. The unique high altitude, dry climate produces bold, juicy Malbec and crisp, acidic Torrontés.

The most important factor to consider when tasting wines from Argentina is that the majority of vineyards are located at high altitudes. In these regions, the grape ripening process is influenced by these three factors:

1. Temperature - Regions at high altitudes will always have cooler temperatures than regions at the same latitude but with a lower altitude. Cool temperatures slow down the ripening process, delaying the development of sugars. Therefore, high acid present from the beginning of the ripening process dominates.
2. Sunlight - Sunlight has higher intensity with increasing altitude. This results in the development of thicker grape skins and therefore, higher tannin content. This is especially prevalent in red wines because tannin gives the wine structure and texture.
3. Soil - The soil at high altitudes contains less nutrients and therefore the grapes cannot grow extensively. Smaller grapes contain concentrated flavors.

The Regions
There are five main provinces that produce wine in Argentina. The largest and most popular province, Mendoza, is located west of Buenos Aires, 1200m above sea level in the foothills of the Andes. Malbec is the main red varietal produced in Mendoza and Argentina's overall largest export. One of the most popular regions in Mendoza is the Uco Valley which has the highest altitude vineyards in the province. The altitude helps preserve high acidity and fresh fruit characteristics in the varietals produced, the most notable being Malbec. The Maipú and Lujan de Cuyo regions are also located in Mendzoa. There are old Bonarada vines located in Maipu, the second most popular red varietal in Argentina. Mendoza is also prone to extreme hail storms and therefore netting is often used to protect the vines.

North of Mendoza are three provinces, Salta, San Juan and La Rioja. Of the three, Salta is the northern most Province and the highest altitude vineyards (1700m +) in Argentina. Torrontés, a crisp, floral, white varietal native to Argentina, is the most popular in this region. Keep an eye out for Cafayate, the region where the most notable Torrontés is produced in Salta.

To the south of Mendoza lies Patagonia, where the latitude has more influence than the altitude because it is the farthest away from the equator. The cool climate makes Patagonia perfect for growing thin skinned, delicate grapes such as Pinot Noir, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc.

Alright! Onto the tasting notes from the wines I picked up this month. Both wines were purchased from Gordon's Liquor Store in Watertown, MA.

Malbec from Mendoza

Before I even evaluated the aromas in the glass, the color of this wine had my attention. The gorgeous deep inky purple hues were stunning. The nose was dominated by primary aromas of plum, cranberry and blackberry. However, there were subtle notes of tertiary aromas, including tobacco and vanilla, likely from oak aging. On the palate, the medium(+) acid danced on my tongue, carrying pronounced notes of jammy red plum and dark fruits. There were notes of dark chocolate and tobacco as well, but I felt like I was digging for them. The wine had a full body, medium (+) tannin and was well balanced, especially considering that the alcohol content was high at 14.5%. The primary flavors lasted on my tongue for a medium length finish.

Overall, I quite enjoyed this wine and thought that the structure of the tannin well complimented the bold dark fruits. However, I am not sure that the price tag of $25 is justified. I expected a greater influence from the oak, considering that I consumed it after ~4 years of aging and ~30 minutes of decanting.

My Rating 3.75 / 5 - the balance, key primary notes and finish were all there, but I wanted a bit more on the palate from the oak aging. It was also not as bold as I hoped it would be.

The Details
Sweetness: Dry
Vintage: 2019
Alcohol: 14.5%
Label: Malbec - Signature
Producer: Susana Balbo
Region: Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina
Varietals: 96% Malbec, 4% Merlot
Price: $25

Torrontés from Salta

Wow! This wine took me by surprise! After researching what to expect from Salta Torrontés, I expected something closer to a Gewürztraminer. Boy, was I wrong. My nose was filled with bright citrus flavors. I also smelled pear, honeysuckle blossom, pineapple and unripe fruit - quite a unique blend for one wine. There were also notes of petrol and wet stones. On the palate, the acid was HIGH! It was almost overpowering, but toward the end of the finish, there were round, creamy notes. A great, unique twist to the well balanced, light body.

This is a wine that I am defiantly adding to my "hot summer day" wine list. A few notable wines already on the list are Wagner Vineyards Dry Riesling and Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc. Like these wines, Salta Torrontés is light, crisp and easy to drink.

A side note - think about the location of this region. It is the northern most region in Argentina, located at 24 degrees S latitude, and is pretty close to the equator for a wine region. As we head toward the equator, we expect the climate to be warmer and the white wines to have (1) higher alcohol, (2) lower acid and (3) ripe fruit flavors. Even though this wine is grown closer to the equator than the southern most wine region in California, it has very similar characteristics to a cool climate, NY Riesling. The power of altitude!

My Rating 4 / 5 - it checked every box for me, however, it was not exceedingly complex or distinctly memorable. It was also a bit lighter body than it technically should have been. Regardless, I am a fan of this wine.

The Details
Sweetness: Dry
Vintage: 2020
Alcohol: 12%
Label: Amauta
Producer: Bodega El Provenir de Cafayate
Region: Valle de Cafayate, Salta, Argentina
Varietals: Torrontés
Price: $15

Argentina is a region that will be getting more of my attention in the future. The depth of aromas in the Malbec and the bright acidity of the Torrontés sparked my curiosity on what else Argentina has to offer!

Did you have the opportunity to taste Argentina wine this month? If so, did you pick up on the high altitude influences? Let me know in the comments! :)