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