Red Wines - Gaucho - The Finest Argentine Steaks

Wine - Reds

With its origin in Piedmonte in Italy, this unique and wonderful ‘work- horse’ grape variety was brought over by Italian wine-makers at the end of the 19th century. It is now only second to Malbec in terms of volume grown.

: Retail
VICIEN RESERVA 2007/ 8: £14.80; Fiambala Valley Catamarca/ 2000m
JOFFRÉ & HIJAS 2007/ 8: £18.55; Agrelo Lujan de Cuyo Mendoza/ 900m
TRAPICHE 'Broquel' 2008/ 9: £13.50; Cruz de Piedra Maipu Mendoza/ 776m
COLONIA LAS LIEBRES 2009/ 10: £10.80; Rivadavia Mendoza/ 649m
EMMA ZUCCARDI Bonarda 2009: Santa Rosa Mendoza/ 650m
ZUCCARDI 'Serie A' 2008/ 9: £15.25; Santa Rosa Mendoza/ 610m

Tempranillo’s origins lie in the Rioja region in Spain. Outside Rioja, Argentina is the most important producer of this grape and is gaining a reputation for a grape capable of producing very fine wines.

: Retail
SANTA FAUSTINA 2008/ 9: £22.05; Uco Valley/ 1250m
O FOURNIER ‘B Crux’ 2006/ 7: £19.80; (A little Merlot/Malbec too) Tupungato Uco Valley/ 1050m

The grape of Chianti and Italy’s most planted grape. It is easy to see the connection with Argentina as here it gives great colour and complexity and a distinct savoury character – perfect with our beef cuts.

: Retail
BENEGAS 2008/ 9: £20.95; Cruz de Piedra Maipu Mendoza/ 776m

This Bordeaux grape needs a cool but sunny climate, and so is at its best at altitude, where warm days and cool nights lengthen the ripening of the grapes for more intensity and complexity. Patagonia is also showing much promise for this variety.

: Retail
ATAMISQUÉ ‘Catalpa’ 2007/ 8: £15.00; Tupungato Uco Valley Mendoza/ 1300m
TAPIZ Reserva 2006/ 7: £16.35; Tupungato Uco Valley Mendoza/ 1100m
NORTON 'Finca Perdriel' 2006/ 7: £13.40; Perdriel Agrelo Mendoza/ 990m
LAGARDE 2007/ 8: £13.50; Lujan de Cuyo Mendoza/ 850m

Patagonia is pinning much of its future on Pinot Noir — the most demanding of all grapes to grow. Here the cool winds, high sunshine intensity and mineral soils make for a unique style and quality gets better and better in this new region.

FUERA DE SERIE NO.2 Pinot Noir 2009: £11.25; (with a touch of Cabernet Franc) Uco Valley/ Lujan de Cuyo/ 1076–1200m
TRAPICHE 'Broquel' Reserva 2009/ 10: £13.60; Uco Valley Mendoza/ 1100m
LUIGI BOSCA Reserva 2009/ 10: £15.10; Maipu Mendoza/ 680m
HUMBERTO CANALE 'Black River' Reserva 2009/ 10: £17.05; Rio Negro Patagonia/ 300m
CHACRA 'Barda' 2009/ 10: £26.15; Rio Negro Patagonia/ 300m

Tannat, hailing from SW France, and better known in Uruguay, has now found a natural home in the province of Salta. Experimental plantings have provided spectacular results, with aromatic and richly smooth wines being the result. We will see a lot more of this grape coming from Salta in the future.

MICHEL TORINO 'Don David' Tannat 2008/ 9: Cafayate Salta/ 1750m
EL PORVENIR DE LOS ANDES 'Laborum' 2006/ 7 Tannat: Cafayate Salta/ 1750m
‘PROBETA’ 2010: El Porvenir de los Andes Cafayate Salta/ 1750m

Syrah is often ignored in favour of Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec, but is a very important grape for Argentina, producing earthy wines with guts and character. The warmer areas (particularly Maipu in Mendoza) are well suited to Syrah as this is a grape that likes a little heat.

: Retail
VICIEN Reserva 2007/ 8: £12.50; Fiambala Valley Catamarca/ 2000m
LA GUARDA ‘El Guardado‘ 2008/ 9: £13.55; Perdernal San Juan/ 1400m
TAPIZ 'Finca San Pablo' 2009/10: £14.80; Los Arboles Tupungato Mendoza 1300m
FINCA LA ANITA 2005/ 6: £11.70; Agrelo Lujan de Cuyo Mendoza/ 980m
SANTA FAUSTINA 2006/ 7: £17.05; Lujan de Cuyo Mendoza/ 850m
TRAPICHE ‘Oak cask’ 2008/ 9: £12.15; Cruz de Piedra Maipu Mendoza/ 776m
PRELATURA DE CAFAYATE 2007/8: £13.10; Cafayate Salta 2000m
BENEGAS 2008/ 9: £17.05; Cruz de Piedra Maipu Mendoza/ 776m
FLICHMAN ‘Caballero de la Cepa’ 2008/ 9: £13.45; Barrancas Maipu Mendoza/ 700m

For many years, this Bordeaux blending grape was labelled in Argentina as Fer, but this late ripening and sometimes temperamental grape is increasingly planted for single varietal wines in Mendoza.

FINCA DECERO 2006/ 7: Alto Agrelo Lujan de Cuyo Mendoza/ 1150m
GRAN LORCA 'Poetico' 2006/ 7: Vista Flores Uco Valley Mendoza/ 1150m
FINCA LA ANITA 2006/ 7: Agrelo Lujan de Cuyo Mendoza/ 990m

The terroir of Argentina is perfect for Cabernet, since it needs a warm climate to ensure a full ripening period, which is virtually guaranteed due to the consistency of the climate. Cabernet Sauvignon is rarely made on its own to such character, intensity and finesse as in Argentina.

: Retail
MICHEL TORINO 'Don David' 2009/ 10: £12.95; Cafayate Salta/ 1750m
RIGLOS 'Gran' 2007/ 8: £33.35; Gualtallary Tupungato Uco Valley Mendoza/ 1270m
FINCA SOPHENIA Reserve 2009/ 10: £13.40; Tupungato Uco Valley Mendoza/ 1200m
FINCA DECERO 2007/ 9: £12.95; Alto Agrelo Lujan de Cuyo Mendoza/ 1050m
CATENA ‘Appellation Agrelo’ 2008/ 9: £18.10; Agrelo Lujan de Cuyo Mendoza/ 980m
TERRAZAS DE LOS ANDES Reserva 2006/ 8: £17.60; Agrelo Lujan de Cuyo Mendoza/ 980m
CATENA 'ALTA' Cabernet Sauvignon 2006/ 7: £37.95; Lujan de Cuyo/ Uco Valley/ 980-1200m
SUSANA BALBO 2008/ 9: £23.75; Agrelo Lujan de Cuyo Mendoza/ 990m
CARMELLO PATTI 2004/ 5: £22.05; Lujan de Cuyo Mendoza/ 860m
FABRE MONTMAYOU 2008/ 9: £15.70; Lujan de Cuyo Mendoza/ 850m
'ENZO' BIANCHI D.O.C 2005/ 6: £33.85; San Rafael Mendoza/ 640m

Like the rest of the Bordeaux varieties, Cabernet Franc has found its home in Argentina. This grape is traditionally blended, but is increasingly made as a single varietal in Mendoza and the Rio Negro, producing leafy and elegantly aromatic wines.

CATENA ‘Appellation El Cepillo’ 2008: El Cepillo San Carlos Uco Valley Mendoza/ 1200m
TRAPICHE ‘Broquel’ Cabernet Franc 2008/9: Cruz de Piedra Maipu Mendoza/ 776m
HUMBERTO CANALE ‘Black River’ Cabernet Franc 2006/ 7: Rio Negro Patagonia/ 250m

Brought over to Mendoza from Bordeaux by Amee Puget, the famous Bordeaux oenologist in 1850, it was clear that this grape was destined for greatness in Argentina. Malbec (known as ‘cot’ in France) is the Jewel in Argentina’s crown. Below are some of the finest Malbecs in the world which, when combined with the beef, offer an unbeatable food/wine combination. Malbec is also beautiful with chocolate.

: Retail
VIÑA PATRICIA Malbec 2008/ 9: From our own 80 year old vineyards. Made by Mauricio Lorca. Lunlunta Lujan de Cuyo Mendoza
DOMINGO MOLINA 2006/ 9: £16.70; Yacochuya Salta/ 2000m
MICHEL TORINO 'Don David' 2009/ 10: £12.95; Cafayate Salta/ 1750m
EL PORVENIR DE LOS ANDES ‘Laborum’ 2006/ 7: £28.75; Cafayate Salta/ 1750
LA GUARDA ‘El Guardado’ 2009/ 10: £13.55; Perdernal San Juan/ 1400m
ATAMISQUÉ ‘Serbal’ 2009/ 10: £15.95; Tupungato Uco Valley Mendoza/ 1300m
ESTANCIA ANCON 2006/ 7: £20.70; San Jose Uco Valley Mendoza/ 1300m
TAPIZ ‘Dos en Uno’ 2010: Uco Valley/ Lujan de Cuyo Mendoza/ 1050 – 1300m
CARLOS PULENTA 'Tomero' 2009/ 10: £12.60; Tupungato Uco Valley Mendoza/ 1200m
FINCA SOPHENIA 'Synthesis' 2007/ 8: £21.70; Tupungato Uco Valley Mendoza/ 1200m
‘EL PHILOSOPHO’ 2010 Familiar Marguery: El Cepillo Uco Valley Mendoza/ 1150m
CATENA ‘Appellation Vista Flores’ 2008/ 9: £18.10; Vista Flores Uco Valley Mendoza/ 1130m
CALATHUS 2008/ 9: £19.80; San Carlos Uco Valley Mendoza/ 1000m
TAPIZ 2010/ 11: £11.95; Tupungato Uco Valley Mendoza/ 1150m
JOSE ZUCCARDI 'Q' 2008/ 9: £23.85; La Consulta/ Agrelo/ 900-1080m
MAURICIO LORCA 'Opalo' 2008/ 9: £20.35; Vista Flores Uco Valley Mendoza/ 1050m
ACHAVEL FERRER 2009/ 10: £13.50; Agrelo Mendoza/ 990m
ZUCCARDI 'Serie A' 2008/ 9: £15.25; La Consulta/ Vista Flores/ Agrelo Mendoza/ 900–1080m
KAIKEN 'Ultra' 2008/ 9: £17.50; Lunlunta Lujan de Cuyo Mendoza/ 980m
FINCA LA ANITA 2006/7: £31.60; Agrelo Lujan de Cuyo Mendoza/ 950m
ALTA VISTA ‘Premium’ 2009/ 10: £14.25; Lujan de Cuyo Mendoza/ 940m
FABRE MONTMAYOU 2009/ 10: £15.70; Lujan de Cuyo Mendoza/ 900m
NORTON 'Finca Perdriel' 2006/ 7: £13.40; Perdriel Lujan de Cuyo Mendoza/ 990m
FINCA DECERO 2008/ 9: £16.15; Alto Agrelo Lujan de Cuyo Mendoza/ 1050m
SUSANA BALBO 2008/ 9: £23.40; Los Arboles/ Alto Agrelo Mendoza/ 980-1300m
SEPTIMA DIA 2008/ 9: £15.60; Agrelo Lujan de Cuyo Mendoza/ 900m
LAGARDE 2008/ 9: £13.50; Lujan de Cuyo Mendoza 900m
CATENA 'ALTA' 2006/ 7: £40.80; Lujan de Cuyo/ Uco Valley/ 860-1402m
LUIGI BOSCA Reserva 2008/ 9: £15.10; Lujan de Cuyo Mendoza/ 900m
SANTA FAUSTINA 2006/ 8: £17.05; Alto Lunlunta Lujan de Cuyo Mendoza/ 950m
CASSONE 'Obra Prima' 2007/ 8: £16.70; Lujan de Cuyo Mendoza/ 850m
BIANCHI 'Particular' 2007/ 8: £20.35; San Rafael Mendoza/ 600m
SCHROEDER 'Patagonia Select' 2007/ 8: £14.40; Neuquen Patagonia/ 350m

In many respects, the blends below lend an idea as to the style of Bordeaux before they virtually gave up on Malbec. There is no doubt that in Argentina the Cabernet/Malbec blend forms a large part of the fine wine tradition, since this combination works so well.

RD DAVILOS Cabernet/ Malbec 2008/ 9: £30.75; Molinos Salta/ 2640m
El PORVENIR DE LOS ANDES ‘Amouta III’ 2006/ 7: £23.10; Cabernet/ Malbec Cafayate Salta/ 1750m
MICHEL TORINO 'Altimus' 2006/ 7: £29.20; Cabernet/Malbec/Merlot Cafayate Salta/ 1750m
‘PROBETA’ BLEND 2010: Syrah/ Malbec/ Tannat Cafayate Salta/ 1750m
‘DOS RUBIOS’ BLEND 2009: Syrah/ Malbec Perdriel San Juan/ 1400m
ACHAVAL FERRER 'Quimera' 2006/ 7: £29.65; Malbec/ Cabernet/ Merlot/ Cabernet Franc Lujan de Cuyo/Uco Valley Mendoza/ 850-1150m
O FOURNIER 'Alfa Crux' 2003/ 4: £34.30; Tempranillo/ Malbec/ Merlot Tupungato Uco Valley Mendoza/ 1050m
FLICHMAN 'Paisaje de Tupungato' 2005/ 8: £17.50; Tupungto Uco Valley Mendoza/ 1150m
CATENA TERRENO ALTO Cabernet Sauvignon/ Malbec 2006/ 7: Lunlunta/ Agrelo/ Tupungato A unique collaboration between Gaucho and Catena/ 860m/ 940m/ 1402m
LORCA CORTE: Cabernet Sauvignon/ Cabernet Franc 2009 Vista Flores Uco Valley Mendoza/ 1150m
FUERE DE SERIE NO.1: Cabernet Franc/ Malbec 2009 Lujan de Cuyo Mendoza/ 1076m
JOFFRE ‘Quatro Rosas’ 2009: Malbec/ Bonarda Agrelo Lujan de Cuyo Mendoza/ 1050m
LUIGI BOSCA 'Gala No. 1' 2008/ 9: £24.10; Malbec/ Petit Verdot/ Tannat Lujan de Cuyo Mendoza/ 850m
LUIGI BOSCA 'Gala No. 2' 2008/ 9: £24.10; Cabernet/ Franc/ Merlot Lujan de Cuyo Mendoza/ 850m
NORTON ‘Privada’ 2007/ 8: £17.85; Cabernet/ Malbec/ Merlot Perdriel Alto Agrelo Lujan de Cuyo/ 980m
LUIGI BOSCA CORTE G ROJO Syrah/ Merlot 2008/ 9: Maipu – Mendoza/ 850m
ZUCCARDI Tempranillo/Malbec 2008: Uco Valley/ Santa Rosa Mendoza/ 650–1150m
SEPTIMA ‘Gran Reserva’ Malbec/ Cabernet Sauvignon 2008/ 9: £20.25; Agrelo Lujan de Cuyo Mendoza/ 1000m
CARLOS PULENTA 'Vistalba' Corte B 2007/ 8: £19.20; Cabernet/ Malbec/ Bonarda/ Merlot Vistalba Lujan de Cuyo Mendoza/ 900m
SUSANA BALBO 'Brioso' 2006/ 7: £33.10; Cabernet/ Franc/ Malbec/ Merlot/ Petit verdot Alto Agrelo Lujan de Cuyo Mendoza/ 1050m
ROSCHCHILD LAFITE/ CATENA 'Caro' 2006/ 7: £45.35; Cabernet/ Malbec Las Compuertas/ Mendoza Vistalba Mendoza/ 1100m
FLICHMAN ‘Paisaje de Barrancas’ 2005/ 8: £17.50; Barrancas Maipu Mendoza/ 760m
FINCA FLICHMAN 'Dedicado' 2006/ 7: £32.85; Cabernet/ Malbec/ Merlot/ Syrah Barrancas Maipu Mendoza/ 760m