by Tim Atkin

My top 50 Argentine wines 2012

These are 50 of my favourite Argentine wines, shown at a tasting in London yesterday and selected from an extensive report to be published next month.

To explain the way I made the selection: I restricted myself to two wines per winery and tried to show as many wines as possible that reflected their terroir rather than an imposed winemaking style. Some of these names will be familiar to tasters, some will be new. The idea, as ever, is to stimulate debate.

White Wines

2011 Alta Vista Premium Torrontés, Cafayate, Salta (£10)
2011 Susana Balbo Crios Torrontés, Cafayate, Salta (£10.99)
2010 Etchart Gran Linaje Torrontés, Cafayate, Salta (£12)
2011 Mendel Semillon, Mendoza (£9.75)
2010 Luigi Bosca Gala 3, Mendoza (£17.50)
2009 Catena ‘White Stones’ Chardonnay, Uco Valley, Mendoza (£55)
2006 Terrazas Afincado Late Harvest Petit Manseng, Mendoza (N/A)

Pinot Noir

2010 Chacra Barda Pinot Noir, Río Negro, Patagonia

Merlot

2009 Humberto Canale Gran Reserva, Río Negro, Patagonia

Bonarda

2011 Passionate Wines Inéditos, Uco Valley, Mendoza (N/A)
2010 Emma Zuccardi Bonarda, Santa Rosa, Mendoza (£18)

Cabernet Sauvignon

2009 Piattelli Grand Reserve, Uco Valley, Mendoza (NA)
2008 Andeluna Reserve, Uco Valley, Mendoza (£14.99)
2008 Riglos Gran Cabernet Sauvignon, Uco Valley, Mendoza (£27)

Cabernet Franc

2008 Pulenta Estate Gran Cabernet Franc, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza (£19.95)
2007 Andeluna Grand Reserve, Uco Valley, Mendoza (£29.99)

Malbec

2008 Diamandes de Uco, Uco Valley, Mendoza (NA)
2008 Eral Bravo Erales Malbec, Mendoza (NA)
2009 Lagarde Primeras Viñas Malbec, Mendoza (NA)
2008 De Angeles Viña 1924 Gran Malbec, Mendoza (NA)
2010 Doña Paula Estate Malbec, Ugarteche, Mendoza (£10.99)
2009 Viñalba Gran Reserve Malbec, Mendoza (£14.99)
2008 Bressia Monteagrelo Agrelo Malbec, Mendoza (£15)
2008 Colomé Malbec Reserva, Salta (£15.50)
2009 Chakana Estate Selection Malbec, Mendoza (£18)
2008 Bodega Riglos Gran Malbec, Uco Valley, Mendoza (£27)
2009 Trapiche ‘Finca Suarez Lastra’, Uco Valley, Mendoza (£28)
2008 Trapiche ‘Federico Villafañe’, Uco Valley, Mendoza (£28)
2008 O Fournier A Crux Malbec, Uco Valley, Mendoza (£28.50)
2008 Yacochuya, Cafayate, Salta (£30)
2009 Lindaflor Malbec, Uco Valley, Mendoza (£37)
2010 Noemía ‘J Alberto’ Malbec, Río Negro (£65)
2006 Altos Las Hormigas Vistaflores, Mendiza (£50)
2010 Noemía, Río Negro (£65)
2008 Zuccardi Aluvional, Uco Valley, Mendoza (£59.99)
2007 Achaval Ferrer Finca Altamira, Uco Valley, Mendoza
2009 Achaval Ferrer Finca Altamira, Uco Valley, Mendoza
2009 Mendel Finca Remota Malbec, Uco Valley, Mendoza
2008 Cobos Malbec, Perdriel, Mendoza

Red Blends

2008 Gran Enemigo. Mendoza (NA)
2007 El Tránsito ‘Pietro Marini’, Cafayate, Salta (NA)
2008 Fabre Montmayou Grand Vin, Mendoza (£22)
2008 Pulenta Estate Gran Corte, Mendoza (£22.80)
2008 Masi Corbec, Uco Valley, Mendoza (£24)
2006 Walter Bressia Conjuro, Mendoza (£29.95)
2009 Bodegas Caro, Mendoza (£30)
2007 Alta Vista Alto, Mendoza (£40)
2004 Cheval des Andes, Vistalba, Mendoza (£50)
2006 Nicolas Catena Zapata, Mendoza (£60)
2008 Cobos Unico, Mendoza (£110)


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