Country: Argentina
Region: Mendoza
Producer: Masi Agricola S.P.A.
Vineyard: La Arboleda
Blend: 65% Malbec, 5% Merlot, 30% Corvina
Alcohol: 13.5% (w/v)
Residual Sugar: 5.8g/L (XD)
Price: $15.00 (CDN)
Visit the vineyard!
________________________________
It was a bit of a surprise to see this one sitting pretty in the Argentinian section at the local wine retailer, given our familiarity with Masi’s Valpolicella and Soave wines…from Italy. […]
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Rating SystemNot Even On Pain of Death: I’d pretty much run screaming from this wine if I ever saw it again. I Wouldn’t Make Faces: Not my choice, but if someone were to serve it to me at a gathering of some sort, I wouldn’t turn up my nose. I’d Hit It: A solid wine, but not necessarily my style. I’d consider buying it again, and would recommend it to others. Repeat Offender: I’ll be buying this one again. A wine with a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’ Bet Your Bottom Dollar: A sure-fire hit. Even your mother-in-law would like this one. |
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Masi Tupungato Passo Doble - 2004
By Erin
Country: Argentina
Region: Mendoza
Producer: Masi Agricola S.P.A.
Vineyard: La Arboleda
Blend: 65% Malbec, 5% Merlot, 30% Corvina
Alcohol: 13.5% (w/v)
Residual Sugar: 5.8g/L (XD)
Price: $15.00 (CDN)
Visit the vineyard!
________________________________
It was a bit of a surprise to see this one sitting pretty in the Argentinian section at the local wine retailer, given our familiarity with Masi’s Valpolicella and Soave wines…from Italy. It appears that the respected Veneto company has snapped up a parcel of land in Argentina’s Tupungato Valley and that their combination of Corvina and Malbec, two varietals that we don’t see much this far north, has been gaining ground as an excellent value wine. We tend to agree.
The Passo Doble is a nifty combination of double-fermented, appasimento (semi-dried) grapes, processes used to improve extraction, intensify colour, raise alcohol and soften harsh tannins. Immediately upon uncorking, our noses were treated to a powerful, but very pleasant, whiff of blueberries and chocolate. With decanting, these mellowed out into black cherry with spicy oak showing through the fruit. Deep ruby in colour and medium-bodied, it was very sweet on the tip of the tongue, but finished quite dry and with a great aftertaste to boot.
Although it was thoroughly enjoyable at the time, this unique Italo-Argentinian has great cellaring potential and some sitting time should help knit everything together and mellow the tannins. The intriguing crafting methods used to produce this little gem have put together a creative, complex wine. Bronze medal winner at the International Wine Challenge in 2005, this one gets a big two thumbs up from us. Relatively inexpensive, unique, and damn tasty.
Michelle’s Rating: Repeat Offender
My Rating: Repeat Offender
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Interesting choice of wines. I tried this at an Easter dinner and was very impressed. It’s not as beastly and overwhelming as other Argentinian reds I’ve had, but there was still a whole lot of flavour going on. Italian wine techniques + quality Argentinian grapes are a winner in my view.
You got a better deal though, I paid nearly $20 (CDN) after taxes.