Chacra Cincuenta y Cinco Patagonia Pinot Noir 2012... A delightful surprise...

February 25, 2015 by JC Viens in Tasting Notes

Sometimes, the reasons for my choice of wine can be pretty shallow...or deeply subconcsious...

Here is a wine that I selected solely based on its label. Its name, Chacra, made me think of the sanskrit word "charkra" which means "center of energy". As I was also concentrated on buying other wines for later posts (on malbec & again on Torrontés), I did not pay more attention to the label until I pulled the cork 10 minutes ago... It turns out that this "Chacra", which apparently means "farm" in the local language, was made biodynamically by an Italian, Piero Incisa Della Rocchetta, grandson of the fabled creator of the Italian Icon Sassicaia...

Bodega Atamisque Serbal Malbec-Rosé 2012 - So delightful, the bottle is already empty...

February 24, 2015 by JC Viens in Tasting Notes

A good thing my sweet Maria is out dancing tango this evening. She probably would not approve of my eagerness to taste this absolutely delightful rosé from Tupungato in the Valle de Uco of Argentina's Mendoza...

The Different Stories of 4 Argentinean Torrontés...

February 23, 2015 by JC Viens in Tasting Notes

Ever since we have visited here for the 1st time 10 years ago, Maria & I both love Torrontés. The thing though is that we have been pretty often disappointed by any bottles we tried since. Perhaps there is really "nothing like the first time"?

This flight however is showing 2 great wines and 2 wines that I would certainly qualify as disappointing. Perhaps there is a lesson we can learn from this tasting.

My Paris

February 23, 2015 by JC Viens in Travel

a friend last night asked me for recommendations to visit paris for a a week-end. and so, i have decided to write a blog post in case you might be interested. of course, these are based on a perhaps a strange idea that when i go 3-4 times per year, i like to feel as though i live there and try to do things as i think i would if i would really live in the beautiful city of love that is paris, the eternal!

Obra Prima Colleccion Malbec 2011 from Familia Cassone

February 22, 2015 by JC Viens in Tasting Notes

Of course I am an interested party because Franco will import this wine in Italy... But tonight, we had it with an Argentinean "asado" of "lomo" (tenderloin steak grilled on the bbq) and it was perfect!