Blind Tasting #2 - Argentinean Cabernet Sauvignon

This was a nice treat to have a blind tasting twice in one week.  This time it was a bit of a long shot, as it was a very familiar smelling wine, but the colour and taste were not as easily determined.  The taste of the wine was a lot like Cabernet but the smell was a mixture of Tempranillo and Shiraz, so it threw us off the Cabernet trail.  We then took a long look at the colour and it was absolutely impossible to figure out where the wine came from as the medium colour of the wine could have been from anywhere.  So, we had to dig a little deeper and we tried to get the base flavours and smells which meant that we were nowhere closer to a decision.

Then we took the next step of focusing on the nose which was so very familiar.  It was as if the region was part of the smell.  We couldn't pull ourselves away from the Tempranillo idea so we were already on the wrong track.  The oak was there but it was subtle which should have led us away from the Old World wines BUT it didn't.  So were on the wrong continent with the wrong varietal.  Such is the world of wine.

We did not pay close enough attention to what the wine was telling us.  Limited use of oak, fairly strong tannins, and blackberry notes should have told us New World Cabernet, but the nose totally threw us.  It was not at all what we would have expected for the type of wine it turned out to be, which was the 2010 Espuela Del Gaucho Cabernet Sauvignon.  Currently on sale for $14.79 it is a good value and the nose is what makes it unique.  However, it is a little hot on the palate and finishes a little sharp.  Overall though a pretty good wine....too bad we couldn't figure it out. You win some and you lose some. :)

Keep on drinking!

Chris & Shannon