Dish N’ Dazzle is a yearly event where Argentinean wineries come to BC to show off their wines and some local Vancouver restaurants offer tasty bites from their menus. The event supports the BC Hospitality Foundation charity. A few of the wines that were brought for us to enjoy are 2017 Argentina Wine Award winners. Malbecs are definitely at the fore, but there is also Cabernet Franc! I’ve made a mark below in my tasting notes if the wine was one of the award winners. Besides Malbec, Argentina also has an interesting aromatic white grape, Torrontes, which you may want to try if you are tired of Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, and other aromatic white wines.
I classify Malbec and Torrontes as treasures from Argentina to try as Malbec has become the signature red grape of the country, and has shown that this grape can produce high-quality wines. The grape is originally from France, but due to its cooler climate could not ripen fully regularly and show its worth. Torrontes is a grape indigenous to Argentina. Enjoy these Award Winners and other wines that I think you should try. Most of the wines are listed as SPEC so they would currently only be found at private wine shops like Liberty, Marquis, and Everything Wine. These wines may be working their way through the BCLDB as well so could be in BC Liquor stores as well.
White Wines
Michel Torino Cuma Organic Torrontes 2017 (BCLDB) – Nice stone fruit nose. Medium acidity. Tasty with flavours of lemons, green fruits, stone fruits, and grapefruit skin.
Tilimuiqui Torrontes 2017 (SPEC) – Melon and flint on the nose. Medium body, soft and round mouthfeel. Sweet spices and green fruit flavour. Elegant.
Susana Balbo Wines Crios Torrontes 2016 (SPEC) – Lots of lychees, along with pine needles and peach aromas. Medium body and medium plus acidity. Flavours of lychees, pine needles and stone fruits. Some grapefruit rind on the finish.
Familia Zuccardi Q Chardonnay 2016 (SPEC) – Light intensity vanilla and tropical fruit nose. Round and soft with lighter acidity. Tropical fruit, vanilla and oak on the palate together with a hint of sweet spices, and some pepperiness on the finish. Elegant.
Red Wines
Pascual Toso Alta Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 (SPEC) – Nice restrained chocolate, vanilla and dark fruit aromas. Full body, round with firm tannins. Lots of black fruit flavours. Quality.
Bodega Luigi Bosca Familia Arizu Malbec Terroir Los Miradores 2015 – Cinnamon, apple pie, vanilla and ripe black sweet fruit aromas. Fuller bodied, dry with medium plus acidity and fine tannins. Ripe fruit with a floral hint to start and vanilla added later on. Soft mouthfeel. Nice.
Los Haroldos Hermandad Malbec 2016 – Juice ripe raspberries, red fruits and sweet spice nose. Dry with medium plus body. Cloves, nutmeg, oak and red fruit flavours.
Los Haroldos Reserva de Familia Malbec 2015 (Not available in BC) – Vanilla, cedar and light intensity sweet ripe red fruit aromas. Nice nose. Medium plus body, round with firmer tannins. Ripe red fruit, vanilla and a hint of floral and red cherries on the mid-palate. Very good.
Trapiche Iscay Malbec – Cabernet Franc 2012 (SPEC) – A mix of capsicum, jalapeno pepper and dark fruit aromas. Medium plus body, dry, semi-round, and firmer tannins. Ripe black fruit and capsicum on the palate.
Trapiche TTSM Finca Ambrosia Malbec 2014 (SPEC) – Light intensity, dark ripe fruit nose. Medium plus body, dry with firmer tannins. Light mouthfeel. Ripe black fruits, nutmeg and pepper on the palate.
Bodegas Salentein Numina Gran Corte 2015 (SPEC) – Nice nose; vanilla, cedar, ripe black and red fruit, and light nutmeg. Full body, round with soft silky mouthfeel. Tannins kick in later on. Vanilla, red fruit and sweet spices on the palate.