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Finca La Nina Mendoza Chardonnay 2005

With oak barrels costing hundreds of dollars each, you would hope to find excellent pricing on Chardonnay which hasn't been in a barrel, like this one. Finca La Nina Chardonnay 2005 is all estate grown chardonnay, unoaked. Tasting Notes. Color: Light golden straw. Aromas: Orange, peach, mango and hints of spearmint and ginger. The mouthfeel is light-to-medium-bodied, a bit creamy, tart and dry. The citrusy and tropical fruit flavors echo nicely in the crisp lively finish. Closure: Composite "neocork". Excellent value ($7).

Winewaves reviewed the 2004 vintage of La Nina Chardonnay. Since that time, the Don Cristobal 1492 website has gone down, at least temporarily.

Jean Bousquet Mendoza Chardonnay 2005

Is it possible to produce fresher tasting varietal wines by not using chemicals in the vineyard?  Jean Bousquet only uses natural digestible copper and sulfur for fungus control, and does not use chemical fertilizers or toxic fungicides.

Jean Bousquet Chardonnay 2005 is 100% organically grown, sourced from a 4000' elevation vineyard, in Tupungato, Mendoza, Argentina. Tasting Notes:  Color: Pale straw, with a greenish tint. Tropical aromas of pineapple, ginger, peaches and cream introduce a light bodied, tart, skinny Chardonnay. Green apple, lemon, grapefruit, starfruit, and slightly underripe peach flavors are fresh and spritely. Closure: Plastic artificial "cork". Excellent value ($10).

Finca La Nina Mendoza Chardonnay 2004

La Nina Mendoza Chardonnay 2004 is produced by Latinfina*, S.A., an Argentina formed corporation owned by the "Lapania Vandenbalck family".

The composition is 100% Chardonnay, sourced from the La Pinta vineyard. Vinification was carried out in stainless steel, at cool temperatures. Tasting Notes:  Color: Light golden straw, with a slight greenish tint. Light tropical aromas of pineapple and lemon-lime, plus a hint of gravel, indicate this will be a crisp clean style Chardonnay. On the tongue, the wine is light, tart and a bit minerally. Lemon-lime, hints of pineapple flavor, and slight saltiness lead to a crisp dry, refreshing finish. Closure: Artificial composite "cork". Excellent value ($8) in an unwooded Chardonnay.

*Latinfina began in 1998, when it acquired Finca La Pinta. Their leadership brand is Don Cristobal 1492, named for Don Cristóbal Colón (Christopher Columbus), who first landed in the Americas in mid-October, 1492. Latinfina's vineyard holdings now include nearly 400 acres, with their La Nina, La Pinta and La Santa Maria vineyards accounting for about 2/3 of that. Their vineyards and winery are all located near Mendoza City, at 2000-3000 foot elevations. Eduardo Lapania, CEO, came from the oil industry.

Alamos Mendoza Chardonnay 2004

Alamos is the second label Chardonnay of Bodega Catena.  The grapes are sourced from 60% Tupungato, 20% Tunuyán, and 20% Agrelo vineyards.  The aging program is 5 months French.  Winemaker is José Galante 87.5 points. Color: Light yellow-gold. Aromas: Lightly smoky peach cobbler with hints of fig and butter. The mouthfeel is medium-bodied, tart, juicy, and just a bit oily. Candied lemon, peach, and pie spice flavors lead to a fruity tart finish. Closure: Real cork. Retail: $9.  Value: Very Nice.

Domaine Jean Bousquet Mendoza Chardonnay 2004

Jean Bousquet Chardonnay is 100% Chard, from Tupungato, Alto Gualtallery, at 4000 feet elevation.

The soil is "rubble and sandy". Jean Bousquet employs "organic cultivation" in its vineyards, using no chemical fertilizers or pesticides. 88 points. Color: Light lemon-straw, with a greenish tint. Aromas: Ripe pears, sweet lemon, grapefruit, spice, and a whiff of smoke. The mouthfeel is crisp, light-bodied, juicy, with tart acidity and somewhat rounded-off. The flavors are crisp green apple and grapefruit, and the finish is tart and refreshing. Closure: Plastic composite cork. (A screw cap would be better.) Retail: $11.  Value: Very nice.

Jacques & Francois Lurton Pinot Grigio 2005

Jacques and Francois Lurton have been producing Argentine wines since 1992. Their own vineyards, at 2000-3000 foot elevations, are still quite young.

The fruit for this Pinot Gris 2005 is from their vineyards and surrounding Mendoza. 86.5 points.  Color: Light straw, with a greenish tint. Aromas: Citrus (grapefruit, lemon), grass, hints of tropical fruit (pineapple, pear), and a nutty note. The mouthfeel is light and youthful, with tart grapefruit and melony flavors, leading to a clean dry finish. Pairing: A nice palate cleanser, a refreshing apperitif, or with a Maine Lobster Roll or Crawfish Po'Boy. Closure: Screw cap. Retail: $9.  Value: Very nice. Imported by Ex Cellars.

Inca Torrontes/Chardonnay White 2004

This dry white comes from the Calchaqui Valley, at 6000 ft elevation, where there is a long cool growing season. The blend is 80% Torrontes and 20% Chardonnay.

Torrontes is a grape indigenous to Rioja, Spain; it is bold, perfumey, spicy and distinctive. This wine was brought in by Apellation Imports. The color is pale straw. The aromas and flavors are spicy and rose petal floral, layered over peaches and apricot fruit, with a tart citrusy mouthfeel and finish. My first impression of this wine was its similarity to a nice dry Gewurztraminer - and this wine would do very well with spicy Asian food, as well as by itself or with salads and light cheeses. The closure is a synthetic plastic cork. (A screw cap would be a plus.)

At $9 (Nashville), this is something different, a good choice for a bold, floral, spicy white wine occasion.

Alamos Mendoza Chardonnay 2003

Estate grown and bottled by Bodega Catena Zapata in Mendoza, Argentina. Well balanced, this is a classic Chard. Some butter, a bit of spicy oak, in addition to the round tree fruit (pears, apples, figs), but everything is well integrated for a Chard. under $10. The closure is a genuine cork. (A screw cap would improve this wine.) At $8.99 retail (Nashville), this is an easy choice for an everyday Chardonnay. James Molesworth (Wine Spectator) rated it 85 points (11-15-04).