Benvenuto de la Serna Trisagio 2006 Argentina

Benvenuto de la  Serna Trisagio 2006 is a wine that comes from the Uco Valley in the Mendoza region of Argentina, it is a cool region due in part to its altitude. There are 3 grapes used in this blend Petit Verdot, Tannat and Malbec  and each plays its part to produce  well structured and deep coloured wine. Red and black berry fruits intermingle with spices, vanilla and cinnamon, dried fruits  and smokey cigar box. The acidity help keep these fruits fresh, concentrated and full bodied while the structure provided by the savoury tannins which are ripe and silky in texture, is complimented by the alcohol which is in itself warming and sweet. This is a heavy hitting wine and one should proceed with caution. :-) This wine won the Argentine Wine Awards 2010 - and is amazing value at a price of £11.50, down from its normal £14.75, so buy now and enjoy at leisure.
Score : 88

Los Haroldos Malbec 2011 from the Uco Valley Argentina

Los Haroldos Malbec 2011 is supplied by Loki in Birmingham UK at a cost of £8.99. The grapes are grown on a 3000ha estate in La Consulta, San Carlos, Uco Valley, Mendoza by Familia Falasco at 1100m above sea level. This is a cool region which helps to keep the acidity of this wine freshening - many can tend towards fatness. The Malbec grape is a variety that originally came from the west of France ( Bordeaux and the South West of France), it is a grape that has full on fruity flavours, and often can produce high alcohol wines as the grape if grown to full ripeness has a high sugar content.
This wine was packed full of sweet juicy plums, cherries and some baked fruits, it had a lovely silky mouth texture, acidity that keeps the fruit fresh and the alcohol was 13% which felt bang on. A little oak had been used here, just 5% of the grapes had received 3 months , and this added another dimension to what might have been a simple wine, at the price this wine is a steal! Do have a look at my post that covers a french Malbec by Asda Rigal!
Score : 86

Doña Paula Chardonnay 2010 Argentina

Doña Paula Chardonnay 2010 comes from the 800ha estate Finca Alluvia at 1,350 meters above sea level in Tupungato of the Uco Valley just south of Mendoza in Argentina where there are warm days and cool nights. The grapevines are espalier trained and drip irrigation with melt water is used, and managed using sustainable agriculture practices where possible.  The vineyard is owned by Santa Rita, a Chilean producer in the Maipo valley The grapes were pressed and then fermented at low temperatures in stainless steel tanks. 50% of the must was fermented  in new French oak barriques then aged partly in new French oak barriques for a period of 6 to 8 months. And you get all of this for £10.99.
Aromas of peach, apricot and a sprinkling of spice with a floral edge, it tempts you in. In the mouth, nectarine and green apple join the flavours and a chalky minerality enrobes the bunch! Great acidity, well integrated alcohol at 14% and a silky mouth feel all support this great fresh and fruity wine, it has an elegance that is often not found in Chardonnays. The length is good and linear, lemony to the end with a sharp acidity, this feels slightly out of kilter with the rest of the wine and may indicate some acidification that has not quite knitted in as yet, but the oak treatment has been sympathetic and stylish, a good wine at the money!
Score : 82

Mendel Semillon 2010 from the Uco Valley, Argentina

Mendel Semillon 2010 from the Altamira in the Uco Valley, Argentina is a wine made from the Semillon grape and supplied by the Wine Society at £9.75. The Semillon grape is normally associated primarily with Bordeaux Whites in France, it is often paired with Sauvignon Blanc which provides extra acidity to keep it fresh, it now has also found a quality home in Australia ( Hunter Valley and Margaret River). This particular grape comes from the Uco Valley at a height of 3600 feet  which is just south of Mendoza, and the vines are on average 60 years old.
The wine had a slightly green tinge indicating a young wine in some cases, aromas of white flowers, apricots and peapods were obvious on the nose, once in the mouth the silky texture and fresh fruit were a delight, lemons, limes with a pithy edge, a touch of green apple and a great fresh citric, a light wine with zippy attack and lovely mouth feel - a great wine to enjoy on its own or with a meal. There was a little oak apparent on the palate in the way of a nuttiness, and on investigation it is found that 15% was aged for 8 months in new American oak barrels, this aids its food pairing possibilities. Review by Jancis Robinson.
Score : 82