Argentina
the journey continues in Mendoza's Lujan de Cuyo region


Melipal
 

This may have been the most beautiful winery
I visited in Argentina. It is a modern structure that blends seamlessly into its surroundings. It is also a very elemental building - utilizing stone, wood and
water in a fantastic, sleek design.


Melipal (which means southern cross in the indigenous Mapuche language) began when
Ignacio Aristi - who had made his money from farming other crops like soy and corn - purchased about 25 hectares of 80 year old vines.
His daughter Clarisa (who grew up in Buenos Aires) and her husband Santiago Santamaria (below right) came on board to run the business.
In addition, Melipal planted more vineyards and produced their first vintage in 2003. Santiago says, Clarisa's father believes in, "putting his philosophy into wine, not commodity items".
This Agrelo winery now holds almost 90 hectares
 of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon vines.

(above right: flood irrigation ditches and netting to protect vines from hail)


But if you do ever get to Mendoza I highly recommend you reserve a seat in their restaurant.
It is a gorgeous, relaxing
place with sweeping views of the Melipal vineyards and a fantastic patio alongside their pond.
The food is world class and very chic.
 

Melipal Malbec Rosé, 2009 a very pretty, mouth-watering colour of watermelon.
Aromas of red berries and cedar with floral notes.
Dry and snappy crisp on the palate with plenty of bright berry flavours.

 

Melipal Ikella Malbec, 2007 is a fruity, un-oaked
Malbec with sweet sunwarmed summer berries,
wild herbs and chocolate . The palate is bright with
high-toned berry flavours and cedar-y hints.
It is supple and rounded with a soft, smooth finish.
 

Melipal Viña Bodega Malbec, 2006 shows plenty
of plush berry aromas - blackberry and raspberry,
kirsch and mocha. The palate is supple - virtually
decadent - with rich chocolate and ripe fruit.
Very nice concentration and lingering sweet tannins.

 

Melipal Ikella Cabernet Sauvignon, 2007 this is the
first bottling of their five-year old Agrelo Cabernet vines.
Loads of cassis and crushed purple flowers and
cigarbox . The palate is eager and youthful presenting
juicy, high-toned berry fruit and fine, firm but ripe tannins.


For more on Melipal click here

at Melipal-toast, dip & creme anglaise; mushroom ravioli; Argentine beef & root veg; caramel & choc

Dominio Del Plata

Dominio Del Plata is a ten year old winery, owned in-part by Argentina's well-known female winemaker, Susana Balbo. Balbo, previously at Catena Zapata and Michel Torino, was the first female to graduate from enology school in Argentina.

In 2001, Balbo and then partner Pedro Marchevsky built this Agrelo based winery in the middle of a 21 hectare vineyard. Dominio Del Plata utilizes both estate fruit and fruit grown by producers with long standing relationships.
The wines I tasted at Dominio Del Plata fall under several different labels made by Susana Balbo and Pedro Marchevsky.
(right: Cabernet Grapes at Dominio Del Plata)

Crios means offspring. The three hands on the label refer to Susana and her two children. These wines are made to be fresh and ready to drink upon release.

Crios Torrontes 2009 is a well-known Torrontes in our market valued for it's aromatics and fantastic acidity. The 2009 is all that - stunningly fresh aromas - orange blossoms and lime peel, lychee and grapefruit with hints of golden pineapple. The palate is juicy, snappy and refreshing with hints of bath salt-type minerality and plenty of spice and citrus zest on the finish. Fantastic.$19 BC
link here to my 2008 review of this wine  here

Crios Syrah~Bonarda, 2007 this 50/50 blend presents plush blackberry and blueberry, plenty of spice and a core of dried herbs. The palate is
rounded with a creamy texture, nice acidity and
again plenty of spice. It is a very easy drinking
style of wine with powdery tannins and lingering
peppery flavours.

Susana Balbo Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006 is a delicious wine with aromas of juicy cassis and fragrant crushed flowers, chocolate and cedar-y notes. Plump and supple black currents roll across your tongue, it is complex and quite intense with lingering blueberry and spice flavours.

BenMarco Malbec, 2008 with the addition of 10% Bonarda this brooding and meaty wine is an age-worthy option for your cellar. Aromas of smoke and black fruit jam, minerals and sweet herbs with a brooding, intense palate with firm ripe tannins.
$26 BC

BenMarco Expresivo, 2006 this expressive blend of 60%Malbec with Cabernet Sauvignon, Tannat, Bonarda and Syrah shows plush dark fruit aromas with sweet herbs, orange peel and vanilla. The palate is plump and decadent - laden with raspberry and blueberry fruit and sweet spice. Very nice acid balance and structure with ripe tannins. Delcicious!
$45 BC

For more on Dominio Del Plata and Susana Balbo click here
 

Bodegas Escorihuela Gascón
 

When it comes to history, this company has it, in spades.
Miguel Escorihuela Gascón arrived in Buenos Aires in 1880 from Spain. He moved to Mendoza two years later and within two more years was able to purchase 17 hectares of land, plant his vineyards and build a winery - hence the name 1884 that has recently replaced the old Don Miguel Gascón labels you may have see in previous years.

The original winery is a landmark, (right) still in use (the oldest working winery in Mendoza province) within the city of Mendoza and is home to a fantastic restaurant, suitably called "1884" under one of Argentina's most famous chefs Francis Mallman.
This was the first winery restaurant in Argentina.
 

Not surprisingly Cantena Zapata ownes 51% of
Bodegas Escorihuela and it has been under the
guidance of Ernesto Catena, the eldest son of
Nicolas Catena for more than 15 years.

The vineyards are located in the district of Agrelo,
in Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza and in the higher
altitude Altimira district in Mendoza's Uco Valley.
The company also sources grapes from more
than 20 growers within the province of Mendoza.
The new, main winery is also located in Agrelo among the vineyards.
 

The Escorihuela wines are readily available here and I have reviewed many of them previously, so it was certainly a treat to be able to visit the original winery and dine outdoors, within the walls of a historic winery at Francis Mallman's 1884 Restaurant.




(right: the asado barbecue outside at 1884)
 

If you ever get to  in Mendoza city and want to really treat yourself then check out the 1884 Restaurant


Wines

Bodegas Escorihuela Gascón "1884" Viognier, 2009 I am hoping this wine lands on our shelves soon! Fresh on the nose - plenty of minerality, citrus, warm spice and exotic blossoms with tropical hints. The palate is quite rounded but with lively acidity - lime and tropical fruit lovely balance and a mouth-watering finish.
Very tasty!


Bodegas Escorihuela Gascón "1884" Extra Brut,
2007 is an 85% Chardonnay blended with Pinot Noir
  with dinner, this wine is a great aperitif  - fresh
aromas of apples and peaches with toasty undertones. On the palate it is juicy with flavours of creamy apples and pears with just a kiss of sweetness and creamy texture.

Bodegas Escorihuela Gascón "1884" Reservado Malbec, 2008 read the review here

Bodegas Escorihuela Gascón "1884 The President's Blend', 2006 read the review here
 

Bodegas Escorihuela Gascón also produces wines under the following labels:
 
Circus, Malbec, 2009 click here to read my recent  review

High Altitude Malbec~Cabernet Sauvignon, 2007 click here to read my most recent review


at 1884 fresh cheese & nuts on greens; ravioli; Argentine beef & potatoes; local cheese, honey & confiture

For more information on Bodegas Escorihuela Gascón click here

 

More good sips

Finca El Origen is owned by the Chilean wine producer Santa Carolina. Santa Carolina invested in Argentina in the 1990s and in 2001 produced the first wines under the Finca El Origen label. The estate vineyards are located in the upper Uco Valley, they range between 1000-1200m above sea level. The label reflects the fossilized soil that left behind 120 million years ago.

Finca El OrigenTorrontes, 2009 the grapes for this wine hail from the North in Salta's Cafayate Valley. It is a very creamy, aromatic wine with peaches and vibrant floral notes, grapefruit and sweet spice and honey. The palate is lively and fresh with saline minerality and lime peel flavours. Very nice.

Finca El Origin Malbec Reserve "La Esperanza", 2008 this estate vineyard sits 1200m above sea level in Uco Valley. Aromas of coffee and red plums, blackberries and dark flowers with a savoury core of roasted herbs and char-grilled meat. The palate is supple and creamy in texture, fresh, ripe fruit and spice with espresso flavours the tannins are fine and sweet.





traditional Argentine empanadas made on the Asado at 1884 Restaurant in Mendoza

Much More on Argentina!

Introduction to Argentina plus the wineries of Finca Decero, Cantena Zapata, Terrada, ReNacer, Ruca Malen, Sottano, Enrique Foster and Mendel... click here

More from Maipú Mendoza - Finca Flichman, Familia Zuccardi, more... here

More from Mendoza's Uco Valley - Masi, Zorzal, Salentein more...here