The Food Buster

Laborum Tannat 2005
Cafayate, Argentina (in the province of Salta)
100% Tannat
$29-$49 on Wine-searcher (2 Vendors).
Keeper
Color is deep garnet. Purpling, with slight golden tints under the light.
What an aroma! Oak pops out, along with a lovely dark chocolate smell. The aroma is accentuated by hints of earth and forest.
As for the taste, it’s excellent for a Tannat—far [...]

Mairena Bonarda 2005
100% Bonarda
$16 on Wine-searcher (1 Vendor)
Same, beautiful dark red color that is typical of a Malbec, though, being a young wine, it has somewhat of a lighter color.
Strong aroma of fruits. Very fresh. Also smells of burnt tire or rubber. A bit wild, too.
Youth shows in the wine—the flavor is there, but its [...]

Finca la Anita Semillon 2007
Semillon
No price available on Wine-searcher.
Golden, foggy color. Muddy, but not necessarily bad. Very little aroma to it, though—hardly distinguishable.
A little dry, though it’s smooth. Nice acidity and bitterness, but there’s not much flavor to it. Just a very light, very drinkable start to a meal.
Overall Score: 2.5/5.0

Luca Pinot Noir 2007
100% Pinot Noir
Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina
Bodega Luca
$25-$35 on Wine-searcher
Dark, ruby color. Great tones.
Fresh, frosty, fruity smell, but hard to distinguish—very soft. Bit of oakiness and acidity is apparent
Strong taste, Very oaky. A bit acidic, a bit smooth. Its youth can be felt, but even so it’s very full-bodied and developed for its [...]

Ruca Malen Merlot 2005
87% Merlot, 13% Tempranillo
Bodega Ruca Malen
Not available on Wine-searcher
Ruby color, but with few tones. Still not bad. Good legs for something on the younger side.
Nice, fresh aroma—like a harvest, but with a burnt, smokiness. Fruity and toasty, with a hint of tobacco.
Tastes a bit rough, as the tannins aren’t controlled enough, giving [...]

Salentein Reserve Pinot Noir 2006
100% Pinot Noir
Uco Valley
Unavailable on Wine-searcher. The 2004 goes for $17-$23.
Keeper, especially value.
The wine has some dark tones to it and is purpling slightly, but the color isn’t anything extraordinary.
Aroma is great—floral and spicy, with a strong oak accent on top. It also has a strong earthiness to it and smells [...]

Ricominciare Altisimo Cabernet Franc 2006
100% Cabernet Franc
Not available on Wine-searcher
Nice, blackish, purpling color, but with few tones.
Acidic, bitter, floral aroma.
The wine is spicy (black pepper esp.) and bitter, with a lot of body. It’s long and strong, with a lot of punch. However, it seems a bit young and a bit rough. Strong tannin taste, [...]

Tomero Reserva Petit Verdot 2006
Petit Verdot
$26 on Wine-searcher
Color is a little light, with few overtones or darker tints. Still young.
Very fruity, elegant, but powerful aroma.
Great character—bitter and very spicy. Nice on the way down. Bitter, with some strong tannins, but balanced by the intense flavor. Spiciness is very strong—even leaves you a bit thirsty.
Overall Score: [...]