Tag Archives: Argentina

Bodega Gascón

Today, the wines of Don Miguel Gascón are crafted in the City of Mendoza at the same winery that was built in 1884 and by the Spanish visionary whose name bears it.  The winery is also the home to1884, an award-winning restaurant operated by world renowned Chef Francis Mallman.

In 1993, another family became stewards of the winery, the Catena family. Dr. Nicolas Catena, known as a modern pioneer in the development of Argentine Malbec, gathered a group of investors and bought the winery in order to carry the legacy of Don Miguel into a new millennium.

During the 1940’s, the Gascón family bottled Argentina’s first 100 percent varietal Malbec. Now, Ernesto Catena, a fourth generation winemaker, has brought the wines of Bodegas Escorihuela Gascón to high status in Argentina, and to prominence with critics and connoisseurs throughout the world.

Bodega Gascón is a winery that makes several different varieties of wines from which I tasted through the following wines with the assistance of their very talented Sommelier: Extra Burt Sparkling, Viognier, Pinot Noir, and Malbec.

These are well made wines that were complex in structure and balance, and they have the expertise in making a world class Malbec for the past 100 years.

Terrazas de Los Andes

In 1952 – Renaud Poirier, Chief Winemaker at Moët & Chandon, went to Argentina to research the region’s potential for world-class wine production. The land at the foot of the Andes was truly amazing and that where they decided to settle.

In 1959 – Bodegas Chandon settled in Mendoza and in 1999 Terrazas De los Andes and Cheval Des Andes (joint-venture with Cheval Blanc) were created.  2001 was the release of the first vintage of Cheval Des Andes.

Terrazas De Los Andes, is an incredible winery, where I enjoyed my first Argentine the meal called an Asada (Barbecue). During the meal I was able to enjoy several outstanding wines in the company of their winemaker Gonzales Carrasco. As we tasted through his wonderful French style Chardonnay, and Argentinian native white wine Torrontes I was able to understand the style of wine that Terrazas De Los Andes are striving to make.

Terrazas De Los Andes, 2011 Malbec reserve was really fresh on the pallet that exhibited fruits of blackberry, mint, violet, very balance and well-made wine.

Terrazas De Los Andes, 2011, 100% Cabernet, blackberry, black cherry, on the pallet a Cabernet that was easy to drink even though it was a full body wine with well integrated tannins structure.  This wine spends one year in French oak.

On my next visit I’m really looking forward to tasting through the Cheval De Los Andes wines.