2002 Altos Las Hormigas Malbec Reserva -- Mendoza, Argentina

Liquor World -- $24

Tasty! This is one of the better producers in Argentina, and 2002 was the best vintage in a generation. This one is complex, with blueberry, blackberry, minerals, and more. It's all balanced by some firm tannins, which could actually use a bit of mellowing -- so it should improve with age. We bought a case.

Wine Spectator: 92

Our rating: A--

2002 O. Fournier B Crux -- Uco Valley, Argentina

Liquor World -- $20

For us, this is one of those wines that you love as much for the memories it brings back as for the wine itself (although the wine is great!). My friend from graduate school, Gabriel Fidel, used to be the business manager of this winery. When we visited Argentina, we spent the night at the winery and got the VIP tour. The winery is one of those post-modern temples to wine like you might see in Napa (you can see pictures on their website, www.ofournier.com). It was breath-taking to wake up among the vines and see a fresh late-spring snowfall in the nearby mountains.

This wine is 60% tempranillo, 20% malbec, and 20% merlot. That's a blend that you won't see very often, and a very tasty one in our opinion. It's made to world class standards -- maceration for 25 days, malolactic fermentation in oak, and a year in French oak barrels. 2002 was the best vintage in Argentina for a generation, and this one does not disappoint. Delicious vanilla and blackberry, balanced by the mellow tannins and the alcohol (14%). Nice finish.

Wine Spectator: 88

Our rating: A-

Mark and Sasha

2003 Terrazas de los Andes Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva -- Mendoza, Argentina

CBM -- $16

This winery is owned by the big French house Chandon. As with all their products, they maintain a high standard. The Reserva is aged for a year in new French oak barrels, which nicely balances the big fruit flavor. Good finish.

Wine Spectator: 90

Our rating: B

Mark and Sasha

2004 Crios de Susana Balbo Cabernet Sauvignon -- Mendoza, Argentina

CBM -- $13

We didn't enjoy this one as much as the Syrah Bonarda from the Crios line. Tart fruit is somewhat overbalanced by firm tannins. The finish is a bit minerally.

Wine Spectator: 88

Our rating: C+

Mark and Sasha

2003 Mauricio Lorca Poetico -- Vistaflores Vineyard, Mendoza, Argentina

CBM -- $19

Here's another one we couldn't resist picking up. This winemaker is one of those that we met on our trip to Argentina last year. He makes wines both for Bodega Enrique Foster and for his own label. He makes three lines under his label -- Fantasia (value wines), Opalo (a rather unique line of high quality unoaked wines), and Poetico (his best blend). You can find out more at opalowines.com (Spanish only).

This wine is a blend of 85% Malbec, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Syrah. Some nice leather on the nose, good fruit (lots of blackberry), good oak, and a long finish.

Our rating: B++

Mark and Sasha

2003 Calera Pinot Noir -- Central Coast, California

CBM -- $23

We couldn't resist picking this one up -- it's made in Hollister, California where we used to live. It's not exactly Napa or Sonoma, but there are a few producers there who make some very nice wine, and Calera is the best. He was the first producer to plant Pinot Noir in California 30 years ago.

This is a dry stlye Pinot Noir, unlike the fruitier ones you might find from Washington or Oregon. Herbal flavors predominate, with sublte cherry and strong tannins.

Wine Spectator: 86

Our rating: B+

Mark and Sasha

2005 Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc -- Marlborough, New Zealand

Liquor World, Cromwell -- $16

A very refreshing summer white. Grapefruit and apple balanced by a crisp acidity. We liked it so much we bought a case of this one.

Wine Spectator: 90

Our rating: B+

Mark and Sasha

2004 Crios de Susana Balbo Syrah Bonarda -- Mendoza, Argentina

CBM -- $13

This wine shows the mixed heritage of the wine industry in Argentina -- 50% Syrah, a French grape, and 50% Bonarda, an Italian grape. There are a lot of good Spanish varieties like Tempranillo produced as well.

Balbo is one of the better producers in Argentina. Crios is her value line, but still some very nice wines. This one doesn't disappoint. Big plum and berry flavors balanced by a nice amount of oak.

Wine Spectator: 87

Our rating: B-

Mark and Sasha

2004 Familia Rutini Trumpeter Merlot -- Tupungato, Argentina

Aquidneck Liquors, Newport, RI -- $10

This wine has a generous amount of oak for a value wine. It comes off as slightly "hot" from the alcohol content (14%), but overall drinks very well.

Wine Spectator: 83

Our rating: B--

Mark and Sasha

2003 Chateau Puygueraud -- Bordeaux Cotes de Francs

CBM -- $20

This wine has some great potential, but it's not drinking too well right now. Nice fruit and vanilla, but it's overpowered by tannins that will need some time to mellow. It should drink very nicely in five years.

Wine Spectator: 89

Our rating: C++ (with potential for much better after cellaring)

Mark and Sasha

2004 Viu Manent Secreto Viognier -- Colchagua Valley, Chile

CBM - $12

We like this one very much. Big peach balanced by good acidity and relatively high alcohol. A nice easy-drinking summer white. We bought a case for summer parties.

Wine Spectator: 79

Our rating: B-

Mark and Sasha

2004 El Portillo Cabernet Sauvignon -- Uco Valley, Argentina

CBM -- $8

A very nice example of an Argentine value Cab. Lots of dark fruit balances with some good tannin.

Wine Spectator: 86

Our rating: C++

Sasha and I have been big fans of Argentine wine for some time now. Australia and Chile have become famous for value wines, but in our opinion the overall quality of Argentine exports are higher and they sell in the same price range. Argentina has also begun producing a fair number of top quality "icon" wines. I'm sure you'll see tasting notes for some of these in the coming months.

Mark and Sasha

2005 Alice White Cabernet Sauvignon -- South Eastern Australia

CBM -- $7

This wine is a great value for only $7. Smooth, fruity, and easy-drinking.

Wine Spectator: 87

Our rating: C++

Mark and Sasha

2003 Peter Lehmann Clancy's -- Barossa, Australia

CBM -- $16

This wine is 42% Shiraz, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 17% Merlot. A rich, balanced wine with cherries and berries predominant.

Wine Spectator: 89

Our rating: B-

Mark and Sasha

2004 The Wishing Tree Shiraz -- Western & South Australia

CBM - $10

A nice Shiraz. Lots of berries and pepper.

Wine Spectator: 89

Our rating: C++

Mark and Sasha

2004 Farnese -- Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, Italy

Connecticut Beverage Mart Newington - $8

Easy drinking, balanced, good fruit.

Wine Spectator: 85

Our rating: C+

Mark and Sasha

Summer Value Reds

We had an informal tasting last night. The theme was value red wines for summer parties. All wines were $11 or less and rated 85 to 88 by Wine Spectator. All were bought from Connecticut Beverage Mart Newington.

2002 Columbia Crest "Two Vines" Merlot, Columbia Valley - $8
2002 Dog House Merlot, California - $9
2004 Lindemans Bin 40 Merlot, South Eastern Australia - $7
2003 Columbia Crest "Two Vines" Shiraz, Columbia Valley - $8
2003 Pepperwood Grove Syrah, California - $8
2005 Alice White Shiraz, South Eastern Australia - $7
2004 Rosemount Shiraz-Cabernet, South Eastern Australia - $11
2004 Black Swan Shiraz-Merlot, South Eastern Australia - $7

All of the wines were drinkable - solid "C" ratings. None were real stars, but the two best-liked ones, earning a C+, were the Dog House and the Columbia Crest Shiraz. The Dog House Merlot was nicely fruity, with some cherry flavor, and a hint of mocha in the aroma. The Columbia Crest Shiraz had big plum flavor.

We'd love to hear your comments on these wines. Just click on the word "COMMENTS" below.

2004 Oxford Landing GSM -- South Australia

Connecticut Beverage Mart Newington - $8

This wine is 71% Grenache, 20% Shiraz, and 9% Mourvedre. It's bottled by Yalumba. It's a balanced wine with a nice bit of pepper, but it seems to lack fruit.

Wine Spectator: 87

Our rating: C-

Mark and Sasha

2004 Borsao Red -- Campo de Borja, Spain

Connecticut Beverage Mart Newington - $7

This wine is 75% Garnacha and 25% Tempranillo. It has some hints of cherry, but it's overpowered by a lot of pepper. It doesn't seem well balanced - too much alcohol bite.

Wine Spectator: 85

Our rating: D

Mark and Sasha