Emiliana Coyam Red Blend, Colchagua Valley, Chile

I would like to talk about a very special blend named "Coyam". Produced by Vina Emiliana which is Chile's one of the most important organic wineries, is a blend of 38% Syrah, 27% Carmenere, 21% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Savignon, 1% Mouvedre and 1% Petit Verdot. I've already had it several times in different ocasions and was always satisfied with it. It's a rich full-bodied red with a 14.5% alcohol level. Costs around 23USD and well worths it. 

http://www.obrienswine.ie/14--to-15-//22383/

Sunday Business Post

"2009: Alvaro Espinoza, one of our favourite Chilean winemakers, is passionate about biodynamic agriculture and winemaking. This vintage is a wildly complex blend which includes Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carménère and Mourvèdre. The resulting wine is one of the most intense and spicy offers from Chile. It’s also one of the most variable – it’s not as glossy and sweet as the 2006 vintage; rather it is a little more savoury, but the finish is as lengthy as ever, while after an hour the glass still gives off a gorgeous waft of super-ripe fruit. (90 Points) "
Tomás Clancy - 15 May 2011

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

"The 2010 Coyam is a blend of 38% Syrah, 27% Carmenere, 21% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Mourvedre and 1% Petit Verdot from Colchagua that is aged in 80% French and 20% American oak for 13 months. It has a harmonious bouquet with blackberry, boysenberry, licorice and a touch of tobacco that is nicely focused considering the number of varieties contains in the blend. The palate is medium-bodied with blackberry and spice on the entry, bold and assertive tannins that do not upset that balance since there is ample weight of pure blackberry and cassis fruit that lacquer the mouth towards the full-bodied finish. This is a well made wine. Drink now-2018. "
Vintage 2010 Rated "Outstanding" 91 points - 04 December 2012

http://www.emiliana.cl/our-wines/biodynamic/coyam/?login=ok

Luigi Bosca Malbec, Lujan de Cuyo, Argentina

That wine heaven named: "Argentina" makes really very good Malbecs! Among them one of the best price/quality ratio is owned definately by Luigi Bosca! Deep ruby red colour, with aromas of red fruits, spices and black pepper. Full-bodied and well structured. Every waiter that you go into a restaurant will recommend it to you, believe me! I'm always happy with that choice, I hope that you like it as well!The price of it in Argentina is between 20-25USD. Alcohol level 14.5%.

http://www.luigibosca.com.ar/descripcion_vino.php?idv=152&idi=ing

Luigi Bosca | Malbec

Vineyards

Finca La Linda, Vistalba (Mendoza).

Age of the vineyards

50 years.

Altitude

960 m.

Yield

7000 kg/ha, 49 hl/ha.

Variety

100% Malbec.

Winemaking

Handpicking, selection of clusters, de-stemming and manual grain selection. Fermentation is conducted in stainless steel tanks at a controlled temperature of 28°C with selected yeasts. After the alcoholic fermentation is completed, the wine is transferred to new and second-use French oak casks where it rests for 12 months. Lightly filtered while bottled.

Ageing in barrels

12 months.

Tasting notes

Intense purple colour, with aromas of ripe red fruit, spices and black pepper. The intensity of the entry in the mouth is complemented with the softness and sweetness of tannins. Full-bodied and well structured. Sober, with a remarkable varietal typicity.

Ageing potential

10 years.

Recommended wine serving temperature

16°C to 18°C.

Recommended pairings

A perfect match for grilled or roasted red meat, deer and hard cheese.

Technical data

Alcohol: 12.8º - pH: 3.6 - Total acidity: 5.06 g/l - Residual sugar: 2 g/l -Extract: 25 g/l

Winemakers

José Irrera / Vicente Garzia.

2009 Rutini Malbec, La Consulta, Argentina

For me Rutini is one of the best Malbec produced in Argentina. I really enjoy drinking Rutini. The last time I was in Argentina with my group it was one of the most ordered one. I would definately order it again and again. The price I pay to this wine in Argentina is around 40USD. In some web pages it shows up around 13 Euros but I've never seen this price in Argentina...

Score: 89.

The Wine-Searcher score of 89/100 is calculated from the following wine critic scores:

Critic	Score
Wine Enthusiast	89/100
Wine Spectator	89/100

Category:	Red Wine
Varietal:	Malbec
Region:	Argentina » Mendoza
Producer:	Felipe Rutini
Alcohol:	13.5%

Felipe Rutini

The 2009 Rutini Malbec has a concentrated nose with elements of wild berries, tobacco and vanilla. The palate is full, with rich black fruit flavors and a long, lingering finish with a touch of black pepper spice.

Wine Advocate

The 2009 Malbec displays a brooding bouquet surrendering notes of brier, spice box, floral aromas, and black cherry. Smooth, succulent, and friendly, this tasty effort finishes with no hard edges. It is meant for drinking over the next 4-5 years.

Score: 90. —Jay Miller, December 2011.

Wine Spectator

A brawny style that stays fresh due to bright acidity backing the blackberry and raspberry notes, carrying floral and spice hints, with a fine, minerally finish. Drink now.

Score: 89. —Nathan Wesley, August 31, 2012. 

2010 Rutini Trumpeter Malbec, Tupungato, Argentina

One of the nice Malbec options that you can find widely everywhere. Though doesn't have very high scores, for me it's a good wine. Especially I never forget the one that we took outdoors just beside the Beagle Channel. Never forget: The best wine is the one that makes friendships!

100% Malbec, 13% alcohol level.

Score: 85.

The Wine-Searcher score of 85/100 is calculated from the following wine critic scores:

Critic	Score
Wine Enthusiast	86/100
Wine Spectator	85/100
CellarTracker	83/100 (19 notes from 14 users )

2010 Ruca Malen Malbec Reserva, Mendoza, Argentina

Last 2 weeks I was in two of the wine heavens named Argentina and Chile. Nearly whatever you order and  taste in these countries has a nice taste. In one of our dinners, we've ordered this wine which was one of the more economical choices in the menu. Well, not the best Malbec but didn't disappoint us neither! It has a market price around 12 Euros, dry, full bodied and 14,5%.

Here's a link about the awards of the winery. Doesn't seem bad ;))

http://www.bodegarucamalen.com/A-Ruca_Malen_MA.pdf

Score: 84. When to drink: 2012 to 2017

The Wine-Searcher score of 84/100 is based on the following wine critic score:

Critic	Score	When to drink
Decanter	16/20	2012 to 2017

Click a critic's name for details, or the score to go to their site (may require subscription).

Awards

Award Organization	Award Year	Result
Concours Mondial de Bruxelles	2012	Gold
Decanter World Wine Awards	2012	Bronze

2011 Viu Manent Carmenere Reserva, Colchagua Valley, Chile

Chile! The country that's most famous for its Cabernets! Though belonging to the cabernet family, there's another type of grape which is even better than cabernet and which has been a long time secret of the Chilean wines: The Carmenere! Every time I take a group to Chile, I recommend them to taste at least once, a bottle of Carmenere. Originally planted in the Medoc region of Bordeaux; after the pyhlloxera plague of 1867; it's now rarely found in France. It's been a secret beacuse the Chilean producers were thinking that it was a type of Merlot. Only in 1993 an enolog from France tasted it, but he wasn't convinced. He wanted to see the leaves and then took it with him to France to examine and just after that it was confirmed that this was good old Carmenere...!

This one from Viu Manent is a really good one and you can go for it in a restaurant, wouldn't disappoint you. It has an average market price of 7 Euros and with this price it has an excellent price/quality ratio!

2009 PAMUKKALE ANFORA SHIRAZ

2009 PAMUKKALE ANFORA SHIRAZ

This was recommended to me by one of the participants of my tours. He was drinking wine in every meal and told me not to underestimate this wine. Made of 100% Shiraz grapes and has a alcohol level of 14%, not very much of my style but one of the better options which you can find in the Turkish supermarkets around 11 Euros. Pamukkale winery though has a great reputation in Turkey and does surely produce better wines with higher price levels...

http://www.pamukkalesarap.com/en.html

Here is a very knowledgeable link about the Turkish wines and a little bit of its history in our country.

http://www.wine-searcher.com/regions-turkey

2010 MELEN Cabernet Sauvignon

2010 MELEN Cabernet Sauvignon

This is from my home country! We have some good wines as well but the problem about our wines is: we really do have some very high levels of taxes that's why Turkish wines never have a good price/quality ratio. Instead of paying around 30-40 Euros for a moderate Turkish wine, you go for a really good Italian / Spanish wine... The Cabernet of Melen wasn't a very nice bet though. The taste was a little bit of acidic and not full bodied as I like. Wouldn't order it again.

http://www.melenwinery.com/english/mainpage/

2010 Pascual Toso Sauvignon Blanc, Maipu, Argentina

When it comes to white wine, Sauvigon Blanc is one of my favorites... And usually I like most of the things that are produced in Argentina! When you put all these together you think that you'll have a wonderful bet but the reality is not so, unfortunately. I've tasted this wine while we were dining in a restaurant in Antigua, Guatemala. It's been one of the strongest white wines I've ever tested, nearly 14%. But the fact is that the taste is not well balanced so it was a little bit of wild taste (high acidity). I wouldn't order it again. I think it costs around 10-11Euros (the market price).

http://www.winesofquality.co.uk/shop?region=argentina&product=pascual-toso-sauvignon-blanc-2010~a01

Established in 1890 by Pascual Toso from  Piemonte in Italy, this is one of the oldest and  most prestigious wineries in Argentina, and since  its foundation has been characterised by their  ongoing innovation.  In 2007 Toso was awarded IWSC Argentinean Wine Producer of the Year. 

Toso’s vineyards are situated 715 metres above sea level at Las Barrancas,  in Maipú within the Mendoza river highland.  The region is dry with warm summers, cold winters, and excellent sunlight levels which are perfect for the development of flavour, colour and tannins. All fruit is handpicked at optimum ripeness, with only natural yeasts used. 

The vines are grown using the espalier training method. The fruit is hand harvested during February.  The fermentation for this wine develops at low temperature and once this process is over, a fresh, fruity and very fine wine is obtained.  Prior to bottling the wine is filtered, this allows the wine to have a bright appearance in the glass.

The wine presents a very nice pale colour. Fine and delicate citrus and herb aromas.  Very harmonic and balanced in mouth with delightful fruits that linger, quite rich with pink grapefruit and melon full bodied.

Country: Argentina
Vineyard Location: Barrancus, Maipú District, Mendoza
Producer: Pascual Toso
Type: Still White Wine
Grape variety: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Style: Fresh and Crisp
Vintage: 2010
Alcohol: 14% ABV
Serve at: 5 – 8˚c
Bottle size: 75CL
Serve: As an aperitif, with pasta, seafood white meats and vegetarian dishes

2008 Domecq Bodegas Tarsus 'Tarsus' Reserva, Ribera del Duero, Spain

Like many of the Riberas, Tarsus won't disappoint you! This was one of the wines that we've taken during our last Christmas dinner with my Armenian friends. Since Ribera is a full-bodied wine, made a great combination with all the cold cuts of the table. I've pais around 18Euros for the bottle and has a alcohol level of 13%.

Score: 90.

The Wine-Searcher score of 90/100 is based on the following wine critic score:

Critic	Score
Guia Penin	90/100