Buenos Aires – First, a side note, the purchase of our new apartment went off without a hitch! A little different than purchasing an apartment in New York, not too much – the only real difference other than somewhat different paperwork is that instead of issuing certified checks for everything, the finance company hands out stacks of cash to all the various parties. Literally! The seller, the real estate agent, the notary, and a little bit left over for me (from the money transfer to here), each get bundled stacks of dollars and/or pesos, depending on what they prefer. I’m really glad I had the small stack, as I wouldn’t have wanted to be the one walking outside with a bag full of hundred dollar bills!

Continuing on with tasting notes from last night’s extravaganza:

Paraguay

Not a major wine producing country, and in truth, to the best of my knowledge, only one viable commercial producer. Tasted through what they had on offer.

Bodegas Pomar Reserva 2002 – No information was available, either at the table or in the book, as to the blend of grapes used in this wine. It shows good fruit, milk chocolate, and light spice notes. It has good length on the finish. Highly Recommended.

Bodegas Pomar Petite Verdot 2001 – Another favorite grape, especially when it’s done well. This wine is on the light sicde, with good cherry fruit, and is quite well balanced. Recommended.

Bodegas Pomar Tempranillo 2003 – A blend of black fruits – plums and berries, lots of spice, dark chocolate, and a touch of leather. Everything a Tempranillo should be, and could easily pass as a quality Rioja from Spain. Highly recommended.

Bodegas Pomar Viña Altagracia 2004 – A blend of Tempranillo, Syrah, and Petite Verdot, this is a spicy, relatively light wine, with red berry fruit and a touch of a spritz. I wasn’t impressed by it. Not recommended.

Peru

Another country without a major wine industry. Much of what is produced there, as I understand it, tends towards the sweet and heavy side, plus the vast majority is distilled into Pisco. But there are a few wineries producing wines, and I tried the wares from one.

Bodegas Vista Alegre Pinot Blanc – I had to try one white wine, right? Unfortunately not very impressive – a somewhat cloying, off-dry white with nothing much more than some vague peachy flavor. Not recommended.

Bodegas Vista Alegre Tempranillo – Good fruit flavors, but very light, and a short, alchoholic finish. Not recommended.

Bolivia

Bolivia has a reasonably well developed wine industry, with a wide selection of varietals. I decided to try a trio of interesting looking ones.

Kohlberg Barbera Tradicion 2004 – Little fruit, very light, almost watery, and fairly high acidity. Not recommended.

Campos de Solana Malbec 2003 – Red fruit flavors, thin, high acidity, and light spice. Not recommended.

La Concepción Syrah 2003 – Much the same as the last one, and for a Syrah, that’s a real problem. Not recommended.

More to follow, in the next post I’ll wrap things up with Uruguay, Chile, and Argentina.