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South American Wines
An Introduction to the Wines of South America for Visitors to Peru
Wines from Argentina: Introduction / Regions / Notable Producers / Reviews
Wine Reviews: Enrique Foster
Enrique Foster
Limited Edition
Numbered, limited edition of estate-grown and bottled 100% Malbec. Highly
selected grapes from old vines with a restricted production not exceeding 1 1/2
lbs per vine. 100% aged in new French oak for 14 - 15 months and in bottles for
8 additional months. An elegant deep purple Malbec with an extraordinary bouquet
of cherry, blackberry and a trace of liquorice. The oak tannins are completely
integrated. A dense, long-lasting finish makes this our showcase Malbec.
Enrique Foster Reserva Finca Castro Barros
Estate grown and bottled 100% Malbec made of selected grapes from old vines with
a production limited to 5000 lbs per acre. Aged in French and American oak for
12 months and in bottles for an additional 6 months. This is a huge wine with
fruity aroma and berry flavors, a stunning example of a full-bodied Malbec.
IQUE
Young, fruity, refreshing and smooth but not light. This Malbec represents the
essence of the Malbec grape and achieves great complexity without any oak.
RATING
91
2004 Enrique
Foster Firmado
Malbec, Luján de Cuyo, $90
Purple as can be, with a loaded bouquet of black fruit and oak. This is your
classic heavyweight, and while 2004 was not a great vintage in Mendoza, this
wine still shows excellent depth, weight and balance. Firm on the finish, with
big tannins and grab. Production was only 175 cases; drink now–2009. Imported by
Southern Wine Group. — M.S. (8/1/2007)
Bodega Enrique Foster
91 Enrique Foster 2004 Firmado Malbec Luján de Cuyo $90
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RATING
91
2004 Enrique Foster Finca Castro Barros Reserva
Malbec, Luján de Cuyo, $25
Allow some of the muscled-up aromas of rubber and churned earth to blow off and
what’s left are true blackberry aromas and seductive plum, berry, coffee and
cola flavors. This properly captures the essence of Mendoza Malbec; it’s dark
and tannic but honest and healthy. Drink now into 2010. — M.S. (8/1/2008)
Dreyfus, Ashby & Co
91 Enrique Foster 2004 Finca Castro Barros Reserva Malbec Luján de Cuyo $25
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RATING
89
2004 Enrique Foster Terruño Vistalba
Malbec, Mendoza, $20
A blasting bouquet of oak and affiliated cinnamon and spice are wave one, while
next up there’s dark fruit and a wealth of vanilla. This is one saturated
Malbec, with menthol and tannins in spades. Only medium follow-through on the
finish tempers the final grade. Imported by Southern Wine Group. — M.S.
(10/1/2007)
Bodega Enrique Foster
89 Enrique Foster 2004 Terruño Vistalba Malbec Mendoza $20
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RATING
88
2003 Enrique Foster Reserva
Malbec, Luján de Cuyo, $23
A good finisher, with early minty, resiny aromas giving way to broader, more
typical ripe aromas and flavors. The mouthfeel is lively courtesy of vivid core
acidity, while the berry and cherry flavors come across ripe and grabby. The
more air you give it the better it’ll perform. Imported by Slocum & Sons. — M.S.
(10/1/2007)
Bodega Enrique Foster
88 Enrique Foster 2003 Reserva Malbec Luján de Cuyo $23
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RATING
88
2003 Enrique Foster Edicion Limitada
Malbec, Luján de Cuyo, $45
The bouquet is fairly tight, with aromas of coffee, crushed minerals, crude oil
and fine herbs. The palate runs snappier than most high-end Malbecs, but it also
delivers on the promise of ripeness and black-fruit flavors. Finishes in healthy
fashion, with some slickness and speed. Very nice and likely even better with
food. 1,000 cases made. Imported by Slocum & Sons. — M.S. (8/1/2007)
Bodega Enrique Foster
88 Enrique Foster 2003 Edicion Limitada Malbec Luján de Cuyo $45
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RATING
88
2003 Enrique Foster Ique
Malbec, Mendoza, $12
A Best Buy
Dark purple in color, with equally dark aromas of black fruit, road tar and
mustard greens. The mouth is balanced and rich, dealing jammy blueberry and
black cherry along with a serving of melted fudge. What Malbec from Argentina
should be. — M.S. (11/15/2004)
Signature Imports
88 Enrique Foster 2003 Ique Malbec Mendoza $12
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RATING
87
2002 Enrique Foster Reserva
Malbec, Luján de Cuyo, $23
The earthy nose offers leather and red fruit, but it’s far short of overdone.
Raspberry and cherry flavors dominate, while the lighter-weight palate is racy
but not that plump in the middle. A good wine that improves with airing. — M.S.
(11/15/2004)
Signature Imports
87 Enrique Foster 2002 Reserva Malbec Luján de Cuyo $23
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RATING
87
2002 Enrique Foster Limited Edition
Malbec, Luján de Cuyo, $36
Starts a little sour, pickled and funky, but airing lets it find its legs and
shine. Plum and snappy berry fruit is a touch tart, but not too much so. With
time, it fattens up, displaying charcoal, coffee and chocolate on the finish. —
M.S. (11/15/2004)
Signature Imports
87 Enrique Foster 2002 Limited Edition Malbec Luján de Cuyo $36
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RATING
87
2007 Enrique Foster IQUE
Malbec, Mendoza, $11
A Best Buy
Fruity and forward, but airing allows restraint and character to emerge. Still,
this is a red-blooded red wine with racy fruit, plenty of freshening acids,
pepper and bitter chocolate at the end. Best in late 2008 into 2009. — M.S.
(8/1/2008)
Dreyfus, Ashby & Co
87 Enrique Foster 2007 IQUE Malbec Mendoza $11
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RATING
86
2006 Enrique Foster IQUE
Malbec, Mendoza, $11
A Best Buy
A draft of menthol and aromas of chocolate and mossy fruit work pretty nicely on
the nose, while the palate is superripe, a bit candied and accented by spice and
coffee. This is a strong starter, though it falls off a little on the finish. —
M.S. (12/1/2007)
Dreyfus, Ashby & Co
86 Enrique Foster 2006 IQUE Malbec Mendoza $11
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RATING
86
2003 Enrique Foster Reserva Finca Castro Barros
Malbec, Luján de Cuyo, $25
This wine seems mulchy and warm; it comes out of the bottle with attitude and
some fire. As it settles, you get berry, bramble and leather, and always does it
seem a little “traditional” in style rather than modern and polished up.
Definitely a full-bodied, oily wine that could use more flavor and fruit. — M.S.
(12/31/2007)
Dreyfus, Ashby & Co
86 Enrique Foster 2003 Reserva Finca Castro Barros Malbec Luján de Cuyo $25
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RATING
85
2006 Enrique Foster Ique
Malbec, Mendoza, $11
Spunky and funky on the nose, with some heat and bramble. There’s definitely a
gamy side to this wine, but as it airs it picks up more of Malbec’s trademark
feel and fruit. Not as forward and clean as it should be; but has its benefits.
Imported by Southern Wine Group. — M.S. (8/1/2007)
Bodega Enrique Foster
85 Enrique Foster 2006 Ique Malbec Mendoza $11
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RATING
85
2004 Enrique Foster Terruño Lunlunta
Malbec, Mendoza, $20
A little damp and heavy, with molasses, stewed berry and char on the nose. The
palate, however, is fairly jumpy and alert; fiery berry flavors hit with force
and some heat. On the finish you’ll find berry essence and some bramble. Is it
slightly green at its core? We think so. Imported by Southern Wine Group. — M.S.
(8/1/2007)
Bodega Enrique Foster
85 Enrique Foster 2004 Terruño Lunlunta Malbec Mendoza $20
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RATING
84
2004 Enrique Foster Ique
Malbec, Mendoza, $11
Quite basic and innocuous. The nose offers simple berry and plum, but nothing
exciting. The palate is earthy, fruity and solid; but again, nothing out of the
ordinary. And it’s short on the finish. Good but leaves you wanting more. — M.S.
(12/1/2006)
Signature Imports
84 Enrique Foster 2004 Ique Malbec Mendoza $11
Accolades
USA, December 2007
Robert Parker's prestigious Wine Advocate awarded top scores to the three
Malbecs entered by Bodega Enrique Foster: 96 to the 2004 Firmado, 92 to the 2003
Limited Edition and 92 to the 2003 Reserva.
ARGENTINA, November 2007
Vinandino, the most important annual international tasting in South America,
awarded its Gold Medal to the Enrique Foster 2004 Limited Edition and Silver
Medals to the 2005 Enrique Foster Firmado and the 2007 Ique.
USA, May 2007
The wine critic of the New York Times, Eric Asimov, announced that tasting our
Enrique Foster Ique 2004 had "...made me reconsider my [skeptical] attitude
toward malbec. The Enrique Foster was delicious, with luscious, earthy aromas of
licorice, flowers and berries...If the Foster is a taste of what can be achieved
with malbec, I will put it on my summer agenda."
ARGENTINA, February 2007
At the Argentina Wine Awards, out of 447 wines tasted over three days, an
international panel of wine experts headed by Jancis Robinson and Oz Clarke of
the UK awarded a Gold Medal to Enrique Foster Reserva 2003 and a Silver Medal to
Enrique Foster Limited Edition 2003.
USA. December 2006
TIME Magazine, in its year-end issue, voted Argentine Wine as one of the five
successes of 2006 and illustrated this conclusion with a picture of Enrique
Foster Limited Edition 2002.
USA , November 2006
In Las Vegas, at the International Wine Competition Wines of the World 2006, our
Reserva Malbec 2003 was awarded a Gold Medal.
ARGENTINA, September 2006
In Buenos Aires, at Catador Wine Awards, our Enrique Foster Reserva 2003 was
awarded a silver medal.
USA, August 2006
The unique society dedicated to the pleasure of the palate, Tasters Guild from
New York, tasted 13 of the best wines from Argentina and Enrique Foster Limited
Edition 2002 was voted the favorite red and Enrique Foster Reserva 2002 was
chosen as runner-up.
ARGENTINA, August 2006
At the third edition of the wine contest VinoSub30 (where the judges are young
men and women under the age of 30), one of our last products launched in the
Terruño line, Terruño Vistalba 2004, was given a silver medal.
ARGENTINA, July 2006
At Hyatt Wine Awards, the first wine tasting organized by this international
hotel chain in Mendoza, Argentina, our Enrique Foster Reserva 2003 was awarded a
gold medal.
ARGENTINA, November 2005
Our Enrique Foster Reserva 2003 was awarded a gold medal and IQUE 2005 a silver
at Vinandino, the most important wine tasting in Argentina, organized by the OIV
(International Wine Organization).
USA, March 2005
Wine Spectator magazine published scores of "New Wines From Around the World."
Enrique Foster Limited Edition 2003 was given 89 points with the suggestion to
drink now through 2006, and Enrique Foster Reserva 2003 received 85 points.
USA, February 2005.
Wine & Spirits magazine gives both Enrique Foster Limited Edition 2002 and
Enrique Foster Reserva 2002 a 90 rating, saying the Limited Edition "... has a
firm tannic structure to balance the black fresh fruit and sharp acidity; behind
it all are the smoky tones of oak" and the Reserva "…this is delicious malbec.
Soft, round tannins and sweet black fruit."
UNITED KINGDOM, November 2004
Giving Enrique Foster Reserva 2002 a 94 rating, Andrew Barrow of UK Wines Online
called it "Big and beefy but with a touch of refinement."
USA, November 2004
Wine Enthusiast magazine gave both Enrique Foster Limited Edition 2002 and
Enrique Foster Reserva 2002, 87 points and Ique, by Enrique Foster, 88 points,
naming it a Best Buy and saying "Dark purple in color with equally dark aromas
of black fruit, road tar (sic) and mustard greens. The mouth is balanced and
rich, dealing jammy blueberry and black cherry along with a serving of melted
fudge. What Malbec from Argentina should be."
USA, November 2004
The Wine Spectator Tasting Report gave Enrique Foster Limited Edition 2002 an
89, saying, "Solid raspberry and blackberry fruit, with sweet vanilla, spice and
toast notes that run through the structured, slightly firm finish. Shows nice
depth of fruit. Drink now through 2007." Of the Enrique Foster 2002 Reserva, to
which it gave an 87, Wine Spectator said, "Nice solid beam of of blackberry and
raspberry fruit. There’s a healthy layer of sweet mocha-tinged toast here too,
but the fruit wins out in the end. Good solid introduction to Malbec. Drink now
through 2006."
ARGENTINA, November, 2004
The Austral Spectator Wine Buying Guide 2005, the leading guide for South
America, selected both Enrique Foster Limited Edition 2002 and Enrique Foster
Reserva 2002 as two of the top 61 wines of South America — out of more than 1800
wines blind-tasted by several panels of judges. We were the only winery with
more than one wine in the top group.
CANADA, Toronto, October 2004
The Toronto Vintners Club selected Enrique Foster Limited Edition 2002 as first
in their Expert Ranking and second in their Group Ranking.
ARGENTINA, Buenos Aires, October 2004
For the second year in a row, Enrique Foster Limited Edition 2002 was chosen the
best Malbec at the Forum del Vino, the international wine fair for sommeliers
and wine professionals.
ARGENTINA, Buenos Aires, February 2004
In the Buenos Aires Herald, traditionally reserved wine critic Dereck Foster
termed Enrique Foster Malbec " truly magnificent."
ARGENTINA, Mendoza, February 2004
Renowned restauranteur/chef Francis Mallman, whose restaurants can be found in
Mendoza, Buenos Aires, Montevideo and Westhampton Beach, Long Island, NY
(Patagonia West) selected Enrique Foster Limited Edition 2002 as the best of the
40 malbecs tasted in his annual Malbec Tasting.
GERMANY, January 2004
Selection Magazine, in a blind tasting of 60 Argentine wines including 30
malbecs, gave the three highest point ratings to "Cadus" by Nieto Senetiner,
Enrique Foster Limited Edition 2002 and Enrique Foster Reserva 2002.
South American Wines - An Independent Guide to the some of the Best Wines from Peru, Argentina & Chile.
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