Our good friend Ken Onish of Southern Starz has been hard at work for many years bringing exciting brands from Argentina (and other places) to the American market.  That is, of course, putting it mildly, since Ken has been at the forefront of the fine wine importing business going on five decades now. 

Here’s a short list of a few of his new selections now available at your local ABCFWS store.

Off the top of my head, I can’t remember the last time we took in a new Chardonnay from Argentina.  It certainly has been a little while.  Awash in a sea of Torrontes, it’s easy to dismiss Argentine Chardonnay as just plain vanilla.  That would not be the case with Casarena Chardonnay ($14.99), a juicy, well-made effort that’s sourced from Lujan de Cuyo fruit.  The wine undergoes a partial malolactic which keeps it nicely focused around a core of store fruits with almond pastry notes.

Of course, Argentina’s forte is great Malbec in all price points.  With the dollar still holding sway over the Argentine peso, it’s easy to understand why you get solid QPR in a wine like Rio Perdido Malbec Mendoza ($9.99).  Here’s a little red that would be right at home with a hearty chiliburger thanks to its sleek, blueberry fruit.  The Rio Perdido Cabernet Mendoza ($9.99) is also a value home run with a nicely proportioned black current, cedar and spice profile.

I’ve previously touted the stellar wines from Vina Alicia in past postings.  They regularly achieve 90 point scores from the wine press.  The Vina Alicia Malbec Las Compuertas bottling ($28.99) is a blockbuster of a wine with inky-black plum, mission fig, mineral and violets on the palate.  This is a big, complex wine to approach now with a thick NY Strip or to cellar and chart its development over the next 5+ years. 

Jim Greeley,

Jim Greeley, SW Florida Wine Supervisor

Follow me on Twitter @ABCWineJimG