South American Wine Guide, Independent Guide to the Best Wines in South America for Visitors to Peru

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South American Wines

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Wine Reviews: Doña Paula

RATING
89
2002 Doña Paula Séleccion de Bodega Single Vineyard Chardonnay, Luján de Cuyo, $29

The richest and most concentrated on Doña Paula’s Chards, this one has enough fruit intensity to support the oak treatment. Melon and citrus aromas lead the way, accented by light toasted-oat scents. Melon and white peach flavors flow easily across the palate, riding a rich, viscous mouthfeel. Smooth finish, nicely integrating fruit and oak. — W.E. (12/31/2004)

RATING
89
2003 Doña Paula Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Luján de Cuyo, $15

Good value in Cabernet, blending ripe cassis with just enough weedy, tobaccoey complexities. Medium-weight, folding in hints of cedar on the midpalate. Simultaneously mouthwatering and chewy on the finish. Drink now with burgers or hold another 2–3 years and serve with roast beef. — W.E. (12/31/2004)

RATING
88
2003 Doña Paula Estate Shiraz-Malbec, Luján de Cuyo, $15

Boasts an extra measure of complexity over the unblended Malbec, adding smoke, spice and herb notes to the lush, fruity base. Peppery and briary on the finish. — W.E. (12/31/2004)

RATING
88
2004 Doña Paula Selección de Bodega Single Vineyard Malbec, Luján de Cuyo, $35

Pronounced oak is the opening blast, and amid the shy red berry and tomato leaf aromas there are hints of leather, mint and coconut. All these scents indicate that heavy wood was thrown at the wine, so while the power and goals of the wine are admirable, it’s weighed down presently by a touch too much resin. Maybe that’ll drift with time but that’s not for sure. — M.S. (10/1/2007)

RATING
88
2006 Doña Paula Estate Shiraz-Malbec, Luján de Cuyo, $16

The nose is forceful and strong, with char and the dark-fruit aromas that Shiraz and Malbec are known for. The palate pops along, propelled by healthy acids and moderate tannins. And the finish is fairly plush before it fades away quietly. A little more depth and length and we’d really be singing this wine’s praises. As is, it’s a rock-solid blend. — M.S. (2/1/2008)

RATING
87
2003 Doña Paula Estate Malbec, Luján de Cuyo, $15

Nicely done, with bright raspberry aromas that leap from the glass. Mixed berries and vanilla on the palate, a fleshy, creamy mouthfeel and a supple finish make this deceptively easy to drink. — W.E. (12/31/2004)

RATING
86
2003 Doña Paula Estate Chardonnay, Luján de Cuyo, $15

Toasty and nutty on the nose, this is a big, woody wine that’s barrel-fermented in 80% new French oak. Peach and pear notes support the wood on the palate, and the wine finishes crisp, with a hint of grapefruit. — W.E. (12/31/2004)

RATING
86
2002 Doña Paula Estate Chardonnay, Luján de Cuyo, $15

Pear and honey aromas belie a palate that’s mostly citrus, tangerine and sweet grapefruit. Finishes persistent, with a juicy, clean, mildly watery mouthfeel. Not bad within its category. — M.S. (10/1/2004)

RATING
86
2003 Doña Paula Los Cardos Chardonnay, Luján de Cuyo, $10
A Best Buy

Smooth and round on the nose, with aromas of melon and honey. A bit soft but not flaccid, with a sweet, creamy flavor profile that blends apple and pear. Finishes light and clean, with a hint of vanilla. — M.S. (10/1/2004)

RATING
86
2006 Doña Paula Los Cardos Cabernet Sauvignon, Luján de Cuyo, $10
A Best Buy

A little bit of leather and smoke meat give the blackberry bouquet something different, while the palate is round, forward and shows good plum and berry flavors. Some heat and spice on the finish do not detract from the overall package, which makes the grade if it doesn’t blow you away. — M.S. (12/1/2007)

RATING
86
2006 Doña Paula Los Cardos Syrah, Luján de Cuyo, $10
A Best Buy

Mildly smoky and toasty aromas lead to a lightly oaked palate that’s largely defined by black cherry and some rich berry syrup. It’s a full, colorful Syrah with a chunky mouthfeel and a satisfying but short finish. Drink now. — M.S. (2/1/2008)

RATING
86
2004 Doña Paula Los Cardos Chardonnay, Mendoza, $9
A Best Buy

From the yellow tint through the ripe tropical fruit, this is Argentinean Chardonnay in its truest form. Los Cardos is the second label from Doña Paula, itself a spinoff of Chile’s Santa Rita. The nose offers popcorn along with pear and licorice, and the texture and flavors are solid as a statue. “Cardos,” in Spanish, are thistles, but there’s nothing prickly about this well-priced Chard. — M.S. (11/15/2005)

RATING
86
2005 Doña Paula Shiraz-Malbec, Mendoza, $16

Big and ripe, with hefty aromas of stewed fruit, cola and mint. The palate is broad but drying, with average plum and blackberry flavors. It lacks some vitality and doesn’t hit the high notes, but it’s wholesome and qualifies as big-boned and ready. — M.S. (12/1/2007)

RATING
86
2002 Doña Paula Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Luján de Cuyo, $15

A mix of rusticity and richness defines the liqueur and leather aromas. The fruit is somewhat candied and heavy, with peppery notes darkening things up. Lots of sweet chocolate appears on the finish, which clamps down with firm, spicy tannins. — M.S. (2/1/2004)

RATING
85
2002 Doña Paula Los Cardos Cabernet Sauvignon, Luján de Cuyo, $8
A Best Buy

The nose deals earth, soy sauce, game and a distant note of green pepper. There’s good extract and color throughout, with some syrupy sweetness to offset the mildest note of green bean. Pepper and other spices on the finish create interest. — M.S. (2/1/2004)

RATING
85
2002 Doña Paula Los Cardos Merlot, Tupungato, $8
A Best Buy

Aromas of leather and root beer are rustic and inviting. Flavors of berries, pepper and red beets create a sweet palate, while firm tannins push the finish. A touch lactic and creamy, but good overall. — M.S. (2/1/2004)

RATING
85
2006 Doña Paula Los Cardos Malbec, Luján de Cuyo, $10
A Best Buy

Big and fruity, and for the most part holds together and exhibits more good qualities than its faults. The flavor profile drives full-bodied black fruit and a finish that cuts out quietly. Not over the top in any way. — M.S. (12/1/2007)

RATING
85
2004 Doña Paula Estate Merlot, Tupungato, $0

This wine kicks off in spicy, almost saucy fashion, but airing reveals plum and cherry aromas and flavors that are backed by moderately spiky tannins and some chocolate flavor. Hits the spot with its forward attitude and healthy fruit, but lacks the complexity of a higher-tier red. — M.S. (2/1/2007)

RATING
85
2006 Doña Paula Estate Malbec, Luján de Cuyo, $16

A veneer of oak and aromas of root beer greet you, while cherry and raspberry flavors work the palate. It’s a lively, tannic wine with a candied, slightly resiny/minty flavor profile and finish. Best with food. — M.S. (10/1/2007)

RATING
85
2003 Doña Paula Los Cardos Cabernet Sauvignon, Luján de Cuyo, $10

Round on the nose, with a fair amount of candied, spicy fruit. Ripe and regular, with berry and cherry flavors, firm tannins and a touch of oak. Robust acidity makes it a zinger across the tongue. — M.S. (10/1/2004)

RATING
85
2002 Doña Paula Los Cardos Syrah, Luján de Cuyo, $8
A Best Buy

Some funky leather, barnyard and charred beef gets it going, followed by ripe flavors of berry and sweet chocolate. A finish with sweetness, vanilla and carob is borderline cloying, but not quite. — M.S. (2/1/2004)

RATING
85
2002 Doña Paula Los Cardos Chardonnay, Luján de Cuyo, $8
A Best Buy

With its soft pear and banana aromas, the bouquet is welcoming. Flavors of mango and lychee are sweet, while a note of white pepper adds spice. Licorice and nutmeg provide depth to the lemony finish. Nice and drinkable. — M.S. (2/1/2004)

RATING
85
2002 Doña Paula Estate Merlot, Tupungato, $15

Crisp and tight, with firm tannins and acids. Also a bit vegetal, but not overly. Flavors of black fruit and licorice are standard fare. A pedestrian, drinkable Merlot with some style. — M.S. (10/1/2004)

RATING
85
2004 Doña Paula Los Cardos Sauvignon Blanc, Tupungato, $9
A Best Buy

The must for this wine spends up to two weeks refrigerated on its gross lees prior to fermentation, according to winemaker Gandolini. The result is a grapefruity, slightly grassy wine that’s rounder and softer on the midpalate, filling in with flavors of melon and fig. Tart on the finish. — W.E. (12/31/2004)

RATING
85
2004 Doña Paula Los Cardos Chardonnay, Luján de Cuyo, $9

A soft, fruity, medium-weight Chardonnay, with obvious flavors of peach and vanilla. Finishes with a touch of grapefruit. — W.E. (12/31/2004)

RATING
85
2003 Doña Paula Estate Merlot, Tupungato, $15

Black cherry and coffee aromas tinged with herbs upfront, followed by slightly earthy flavors. Seems soft at first, but the acidity builds on the finish, closing with tart flavors and hints of caramel and graham crackers. — W.E. (12/31/2004)

RATING
84
2002 Doña Paula Estate Red Blend, Luján de Cuyo, $15

This 60-40 blend begins with creamy chocolate and vanilla aromas atop standard-fare red fruit. Flavors of rhubarb, cherry and pepper exert themselves on the woody, peppery palate. The weakness here is a thin middle; things start out solid and then shorten rapidly. — M.S. (2/1/2004)

RATING
84
2003 Doña Paula Los Cardos Malbec, Luján de Cuyo, $10

The bouquet kicks off with a hard, cheesy scent. Then come rubber and asphalt along with dark berry notes. It tastes of raspberry jam, then goes soft before veering toward strawberry on the finish. Lighter in weight, and without much depth. — M.S. (11/15/2004)

RATING
84
2005 Doña Paula Selección de Bodega Single Vineyard Malbec, Luján de Cuyo, $35

Supposedly Doña Paula’s top selection for 2005, and while the wine shows some earthy darkness and plenty of fruit on the bouquet it doesn’t follow up with the mouthfeel or overall balance that it should. It’s ripe for sure, but also aggressive, with a disjointed acid-to-tannin ratio and an almost syrupy mouthfeel. — M.S. (8/1/2008)

RATING
84
1999 Doña Paula Los Cardos Malbec, Mendoza, $8

Big and barrel heavy, with burnt aromas dominating the nose. Underneath is sweet black-cherry fruit, although it’s so rich and forward that it risks being considered medicinal. Some heavy wood creates a chocolaty flavor and feel. — M.S. (12/1/2003)

RATING
84
1999 Doña Paula Seleccion de Bodega Single Vineyard Malbec, Luján de Cuyo, $12

Better flavors than aromas. The nose begins gassy and burnt, and it never quite sheds that harsh barrel smell. But in the mouth, it has sweet, chunky fruit and a pleasant softness. Our bet is that if given time to properly open, folks will like it because of its easiness. — M.S. (12/1/2003)

RATING
83
1999 Doña Paula Malbec, Mendoza, $12

Muscular, chunky and a bit sun-baked. The nose is smothered by sweaty leather and barnyard, while a bit of everything is accounted for on the palate: red berries, jamminess, even red cabbage. In the final analysis, it’s got force but it’s not focused or harnessed. — M.S. (12/1/2003)

RATING
83
2005 Doña Paula Estate Chardonnay, Luján de Cuyo, $16

Fading fast; this plump, hot-climate Chard is pretty much as expected: there’s lots of oak covering peach, butterscotch and apple cider aromas and flavors. Borderline cloying. — M.S. (8/1/2007)

RATING
83
2005 Doña Paula Los Cardos Cabernet Sauvignon, Luján de Cuyo, $10

A bit heavy and muddled up front, but that could be construed as being earthy. The flavors run a touch green, but along with that leaning there’s zesty red fruit and some tannin. Grabby but not harsh. Imported by Vineyard Brands. — M.S. (11/1/2006)

RATING
83
2004 Doña Paula Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendoza, $16

Warm and oaky up front, with menthol. The palate is short and feels kind of flat as it offers up standard raspberry and other red-fruit flavors. Finishes with milk chocolate notes but overall it doesn’t have much texture or personality. — M.S. (8/1/2007)

RATING
82
2005 Doña Paula Los Cardos Chardonnay, Mendoza, $10

The bouquet initially yields iodine and ham aromas, but airing settles it down. Sweet and full of apple flavors in the mouth, while the finish veers dangerously close to cider-like. Struggles to make its mark. — M.S. (11/1/2006)

RATING
82
2003 Doña Paula Los Cardos Syrah, Luján de Cuyo, $10

Chunky, grapy and a bit weedy. The palate is one part sticky sweet and one part tart, while the finish is hot and spicy. — M.S. (10/1/2004)

RATING
82
2005 Doña Paula Los Cardos Sauvignon Blanc, Mendoza, $10

Pungent grapefruit aromas carry the aggressive yet fragile nose. Sheer and citric in the mouth, with sharp lemon-lime flavors. Zesty almost to the point of scouring. — M.S. (12/1/2006)

RATING
80
2005 Doña Paula Los Cardos Rosé Malbec, Mendoza, $10

Hard and spiky on the nose, and not a whole lot better in the mouth. The flavors are tart and juicy, while the lean finish is ultratangy and sharp. — M.S. (12/1/2006)

RATING
80
2003 Doña Paula Los Cardos Merlot, Tupungato, $10

Boisterous and overcooked, with heavily roasted aromas and flavors. Not a polished, prime-time wine. — M.S. (10/1/2004)

South American Wines - An Independent Guide to the some of the Best Wines from Peru, Argentina & Chile.