The results are finally in! Amanda Barnes rounds up the Annual Wine Republic Tasting 2011 and reveals the results everyone is waiting to see...
Coming up with a shortlist of some of the best wines in Argentina is not an easy task. This year we went for the entire republic and wanted to show our readers some of the country's best and most diverse wines to rightly show that Argentina is doing much more than Malbec.
We drafted up some of our favourite wines and those which we have genuinely enjoyed tasting over the last year, and consulted a few wine gurus on their top picks too. With a long list we tried to cut it down to around 70 wines with no more than six wines per varietal (we actually ended up with 72 wines, and couldn't cut our Malbec to any less than 15!)
At the same time we put together a professional body of judges – eight of the finest wine writers, wine makers and experts. After a few months of preparation we arrived to D-Day: 23rd July. The lucky judges heroically swirled their way through 72 outstanding wines, which took around 3 hours, 12 helpers and almost 600 glasses.
After a gruelling evening of tasting, winemakers from each winery featured and members of the local press were invited to The
Executive Hotel for a post-tasting reception where the invitees and judges could finally let their hair down and finally swallow some of the gorgeous vino.
Speaking to some of the judges after the tasting, they had all felt it had gone well were impressed with the standards of wine on display. "There was a great variety this year, we saw a great diversity in the blends too," commented Luis Mantegini after the tasting. "I think it is clear that we can see much more of a range to Argentinean wine."
The judges all commented that what left the biggest impression was the quality in the other varietals – proving that Argentine wine is more than just Malbec and Torrontes. "The Sauvignon Blancs were great and really made an impression on me," said Angel Mendoza. "I was also surprised by the great Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, and some of the blends of course were outstanding."
What is a Blind Tasting?
Dom Perignon, the famous Champagne wine-maker perfected the blind tasting. When trying his wines, he forbade his servers to tell him from which vineyard each sample came so it would not affect his judgment. This is the same principle that you apply to a modern blind tasting, the most unbiased way to judge a wine.
Our panel of eight expert judges tried each of the wines poured from bottles wrapped in paper bags – even the shape of the bottle is disguised to fool the most astute judge. Knowing only the varietal, each taster judges the wine on its appearance, aromas and taste, awarding it up to 100 points. The actual tasting is a rather boring event for spectators – resembling something of an exam hall. Judges are forbidden to confer and compare notes and are separated by a meter's distance to prevent any sneaky peeks at others' scores. From each result an average is taken to prevent a rogue judge affecting the outcome. Unlike much competition, wineries do not pay to enter and there are no golden stars or medals to keep participants happy. It is down to simple unbiased numbers and what comes out on top is truly top.
The Results
The judging panel
Fanny Polimeni
Well respected Argentine wine writer. Fanny Polimeni's most recent project is RSVP Magazine (Restaurants, flavours, wines and pleasures) where she is Editor. No stranger to the judging booth, Fanny has voiced her opinions in international competitions like Vinexpo, Vinitaly, Vinandino, and La Mujer Elige.
Patricio (Fabricio Portelli)
Fabricio Portelli is a noted Argentinean wine expert and writer who has judged international competitions like Decanter World Wine Awards, the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, Vinitaly and Vinandino. He currently edits wine magazine El Conocedor and devotes his spare time to wine education at Escuela Argentina de Sommeliers as well as Colegio Gato Dumas.
Angel Mendoza
A cherished wine maker in Mendoza. Angel Mendoza's French ancestry is put into a new world context in his winery Domaine St. Diego. His products are known for their unbeatable quality and personal flare, while Angel himself is internationally recognized for the respect and honesty that he brings to winemaking.
Cristina Pandolfi
Cristina is a seasoned agricultural engineer who organized the competition Vinos Vinandino, and has judged in many others, namely Citadelles du Vin, Malbec al mundo, and Vinexpo. Currently Cristina is Assistant Director at the Instituto Nacional de Vitivinicultura where she negotiates rules and regulations that affect viniculture internationally. This is her second year judging for our annual Wine Republic tasting.
David Kingsbury
David Kingsbury, another returning judge from 2010, began his career as a winemaker in his native Australia at Rosemount Estates. After eight years as head winemaker in two different institutions in Bourdeaux, David joined us in Argentina in 2001 and began working as a winemaker's consultant. Currently he is the CEO of Gransud, a company dedicated to providing products and services to winemakers.
Ernesto Lanusse
A food and wine and food expert from Buenos Aires, Ernesto Lanusse owns hip restaurant Espacio Dolli in the capital. Bringing years of experience in wine tasting and commentary, he is joining our Wine Republic judging panel for the first time this year.
Duncan Killiner
Our second international pallet in the judging panel this year, Duncan Killiner is a winemaker from New Zealand who co-owns Manos Negros Wines and consults for Cellar World. While Duncan has worked internationally for over a decade, his focus has been in the wine industries of Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay. Duncan is also a returning judge from last year's competition.
Luis Mantegini
Another returning judge from 2010, Luis Mantegini is a professional sommelier and tourism expert based in Mendoza. He has worked as an exclusive wine guide for over a decade and currently consults for wine tourism companies and works in wine education.
A good wine requires a good water
When it comes down to organising a professional wine tasting even the smallest details count. To keep the judges company while tasting the premium wines we hunted down a premium water: Gussfeldt. Reportedly sourced from the Aconcagua glaciers, this luxury wine tasting water fit the bill for our Argentine wine tasting! www.gussfeldt.com
