For outstanding value...
Chilean and Argentinean reds are excellent.
Unfortunately, the excellent quality ones rarely leave these two countries and what we get are the bottom of the barrel.
I will do a little research and report back.
For now, "Don Melchor" (a Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon from the Maipo Valley) is a great wine. (but there are a lot better over there.)
A little history...
Typically the wines of both Chile and Argentina are fashioned in the French and Italian ways, primarily because of the large respective immigrant population into those countries (Chile and Argentina), from the "old countries" (France and Italy)
In addition, up until recently, the red wines of South America were produced using the blending of grapes (a la Bordeaux), i.e. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and in some instances, Malbec, rather than the single grape style as it is in California, (i.e. Cabernet Sauvignon, etc) and now more popular all over.
An interesting fact about the vines of Chile and Argentina (and Uruguay, although less famous).
The vines were brought there by immigrants and missionaries prior to the 1850's phyloxera era and they were never affected by the little bug, which almost destroyed the vitis-vinifera vines in Europe, saved only by grafting to American roots, which was at the time, immune to the pest.
I have always wondered if that ever had an effect on the overall taste of the wine, from the wines prior that time.
I learned in going to Buenos Aires that they do as the Italians... they export their secondary wines and they keep the very best for themselves.
Both Argentinean and Chilean wines are one of the best, some in the same level of the best Clarets. Mendoza is the prime wine region in Argentina as Maipo Valley is for Chile (at least for me).
As for what they export... I wish they would allow exporting some of their best.
Lastly, recently some Argentinean Chardonnays are beginning to appear to be as good as their reds.
Will report back with some names... I just remember drinking the reds and forget the names on the labels... too much fun with the excellent beef from Argentina... |
