When we are in Mexico wine can be a problem. We bought a wine cooler (35 bottles) for the good stuff but the only affordable wine where we are is from Mexico or So America. There are some drinkable Mexican wines but my wife thought I should get out of my "old world" crumugeon attitude and try a few from So America. Have to admit I went for price but our local wine shop had several wines from MAIPE and they were said to be quite nice.
'07 Sauvignon Blanc - When you opened this bottle at first all you could taste was peaches. It had some acid in the background and after after about 15 minutes some of the peach flavor calmed down but it was still peaches, peaches and more peaches. I have a favorite summer thirst quencher, 1/3 of peach nectar and 2/3 sparkling water. I would of sworn that was what I was drinking with a little alcohol added. Got 2 thumbs down from my wife and one thumb down from me.
'06 Cabernet Sauvignon - Too young with a tannic bite. Everything seemed to be there but just not ready to drink. Just a touch of oak, nice fruit and some promise. One thumb down from both my wife an I. We corked it after only one glass and then opened it two days later. This was a totally different wine. It had come together and was very nice. New world in style but not the oak and over ripness that I hate. It got at least one thumb up from both of us and bordered on a linp extra 1/2 thumb.
'07 Malbec - Have to admit entering this sip of wine with prejudice. In my mind malbecs are similar to OZ shiraz, both over the top and not worth drinking. How is that for a gross generalization. This wine was different. It was not over ripe and showed no hint of too much oak. The problem was, like the cabernet, it was way too young and didn't even show that much promise. Two thumbs down from both of us. Again, two days later this was a toally different wine. It was approachable, easy to drink but lacked the complexity of the cabernet. We both gave it a one thumb up maximum but certainly better than when first opened.
'07 Chardonnay - Out of the bottle this was the best wine of the four. I do not believe this wine spent any time in cask and had great chard fruit. An honest wine, very enjoyable, and one I would buy again. We both gave it an exciting one thumb up.
We did not find any 2 thumbs up wines but for $9.95 per bottle what do you expect. We will buy the cabernet, but let it rest, and also buy the chardonnay again and probably take several bottles for Christmas with our family south of the border.
Walt