Comments on: Mendoza http://benchlandblog.com/2009/01/mendoza/ News and Views From High Above Dry Creek Valley Fri, 25 Jun 2010 23:34:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Steve Hoeft http://benchlandblog.com/2009/01/mendoza/comment-page-1/#comment-250 Steve Hoeft Fri, 16 Jan 2009 23:11:55 +0000 http://benchlandblog.com/?p=1086#comment-250 Hi Tony, Why Parker and WS like burnt raisin wine I can't understand. At some point of ripeness they all start to taste the same. I want each bottle to be a new experience. It is truly tragic that Mendoza is shipping Parkerized wines now. The second worst side effect of Parkerized wines is the Alcohol levels. For hundreds of years good wine had 11-12% alcohol, why is a sub 14% wine so hard to find. I open wine from the early 90's at 12.5% alcohol and they are wonderful. I purchase the current vintage of the same wine and I see a completely different wine, the fruit tastes like a burnt oatmeal cookie, after 2 glasses you can't drive home. I find that I purchase new wines based on low alcohol levels as much anything else these days. Your winery seems to have it under control, sadly you are one of the few. Thanks you Hi Tony,

Why Parker and WS like burnt raisin wine I can’t understand. At some point of ripeness they all start to taste the same. I want each bottle to be a new experience. It is truly tragic that Mendoza is shipping Parkerized wines now. The second worst side effect of Parkerized wines is the Alcohol levels. For hundreds of years good wine had 11-12% alcohol, why is a sub 14% wine so hard to find. I open wine from the early 90′s at 12.5% alcohol and they are wonderful. I purchase the current vintage of the same wine and I see a completely different wine, the fruit tastes like a burnt oatmeal cookie, after 2 glasses you can’t drive home. I find that I purchase new wines based on low alcohol levels as much anything else these days. Your winery seems to have it under control, sadly you are one of the few.
Thanks you

]]> By: AWToday 15/01/09 « AWToday http://benchlandblog.com/2009/01/mendoza/comment-page-1/#comment-249 AWToday 15/01/09 « AWToday Fri, 16 Jan 2009 01:45:59 +0000 http://benchlandblog.com/?p=1086#comment-249 [...] Mendoza | Benchland Blog I just got back from Mendoza — Argentina’s most notable wine region at the foot of the Andes. It makes me laugh to write that since I, too, have. Benchland Blog - http://benchlandblog.com/ [...] [...] Mendoza | Benchland Blog I just got back from Mendoza — Argentina’s most notable wine region at the foot of the Andes. It makes me laugh to write that since I, too, have. Benchland Blog – http://benchlandblog.com/ [...]

]]> By: Tony http://benchlandblog.com/2009/01/mendoza/comment-page-1/#comment-248 Tony Thu, 15 Jan 2009 22:48:01 +0000 http://benchlandblog.com/?p=1086#comment-248 I love your point about memories being maybe better than actuality. It's so tough to judge a wine outside of the occasion. It's simply impossible for that 2007 Dona Paula malbec to taste as good at home as it did when I sat sipping it over a steak at a sidewalk parrilla while basking in the glory of Mendoza. I guess I need to take more trips. Or drink more wine. Or both... tony I love your point about memories being maybe better than actuality. It’s so tough to judge a wine outside of the occasion. It’s simply impossible for that 2007 Dona Paula malbec to taste as good at home as it did when I sat sipping it over a steak at a sidewalk parrilla while basking in the glory of Mendoza. I guess I need to take more trips. Or drink more wine. Or both…

tony

]]> By: Maggie http://benchlandblog.com/2009/01/mendoza/comment-page-1/#comment-247 Maggie Wed, 14 Jan 2009 20:50:05 +0000 http://benchlandblog.com/?p=1086#comment-247 I was in Argentina about 6 years ago, and tasted many wonderful wines much like you described with beautiful intense flavors & then attended the Argentinan tasting at Fort Mason this past Fall. Although I did enjoy myself, and there were some very good wines there, everything I tasted could be purchased here, and much of what was available seemed less than the stellar wines, I had tried on my trip. Perhaps my memories are more fond than the actuality. I have found the same to be true in my travels to New Zealand, and some very special Cabernet Sauvignon I found in South Africa as well. One can argue that the smaller producers don't have the $ to make their wines globally available, so we have to take what we can get.. And I'm right there with you about the the scores in the mags, I don't often look to them for guidance when choosing a wine, and sometimes after I try a wine, then look at it's reviews, and think, 91 points? for this? --Dan a.k.a. Maggie's husband I was in Argentina about 6 years ago, and tasted many wonderful wines much like you described with beautiful intense flavors & then attended the Argentinan tasting at Fort Mason this past Fall. Although I did enjoy myself, and there were some very good wines there, everything I tasted could be purchased here, and much of what was available seemed less than the stellar wines, I had tried on my trip. Perhaps my memories are more fond than the actuality.

I have found the same to be true in my travels to New Zealand, and some very special Cabernet Sauvignon I found in South Africa as well. One can argue that the smaller producers don’t have the $ to make their wines globally available, so we have to take what we can get..

And I’m right there with you about the the scores in the mags, I don’t often look to them for guidance when choosing a wine, and sometimes after I try a wine, then look at it’s reviews, and think, 91 points? for this?

–Dan a.k.a. Maggie’s husband

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