Patagonian Wines

I wrote before about this region, which is fast becoming a major focus for wine lovers. With a totally different climate that you'll find in Mendoza or Salta, Patagonia is cooler and windier, creating totally different wines, something you can really notice with the malbecs. But, attention Pinot lovers: it is a perfect place for our other favorite grape. Patagonian Pinot Noir is something worth trying. No wonder major investment is going on in the area.

Here you have a good introduction to Patagonia:

Patagonia Wine Country

The New York Times just came out with the "31 Places To Go in 2010", and Patagonia Wine Country made it all the way to number 2 on the list:

"Ten years ago, a group of adventurous winemakers set their sights on an Argentine valley called San Patricio del Chañar, an unusually fertile and eerily beautiful corner of Patagonia. They plowed, planted and waited. The outcome? A blossoming wine country with delicious pinot noirs and malbecs and smartly designed wineries..."

The wineries mentioned in the article are: Bodega Fin del Mundo, NQN (legendary winemaker Roberto de la Motta is involved there) and Valle Perdido (link to the story here).
For you to have an idea where, for example, Valle Perdido winery is located here is the map:

Ver mapa más grande
I have tried their Pinot Noirs before and I have to say I was pleasantly surprise. This is quality bargain Pinot Noir. Less sweet and more focused on the berry fruit, refreshing, not heavy, and all for less than $13.00. It is balanced and elegant, with a long persistent finish demanding you to come back for more. In the market you can find already the '08 vintage, the second one in the row available in the US.

But going back to the beginning of the post, another blogger living in Patagonia warns potential tourist of the difficulties of getting around in that part of Argentina:

"... Neuquén and General Roca, the jumping off points for this wine region, are about four hours from Bariloche, and three of those four are long and dreary driving. It’s about 10 hours from southern Mendoza, making it an extremely tedious side trip.
...The scenery is flat and dry. There is nothing in any direction but that flat nothingness I’ve so often written about.  This landscape pales in comparison to the High Andes backdrop of Mendoza and the gnarly entrance through Valle de Calchaqui to Argentina’s second wine area, Cafayate..."

Patagonia is a beautiful corner of the world. But if you are going there be sure that you do a lot of research and planning.

Malbec Quickies

Welcome to our world news roundup:
-New York Times Style Magazine (link here) goes deep into the most historic Buenos Aires' barrios (neighborhoods) and gives us very good tips not found in mainstream travel books.  If you like photography don't miss some truly great pictures.

"...Forget the martini bars and sushi joints. The real Buenos Aires resides in its bodegones, neighborhood restaurants steeped in what it means to be argentine..." (or "porteño" I would add). 

Wine reviews:
-2006 Trivento Golden Reserve Malbec
-Chakana Yaguareté Collection Malbec 2009
-Chakana Reserva Malbec 2008, Chakana Yaguaraté Collection Bonarda 2009, and Patagonia Pinot Noir by Familia Schroeder. After my post yesterday about argentinian bonarda take a look at the review for the Chakana Bonarda. From Michael Pinkus, the Grape Guy.