Some of the best buys in wines today come from South America, where the quality tends to be high, while prices are generally low. Price doesn’t always equal quality, and sometimes the price of a bottle of wine is based on the reputation of the country it hails from.
Much like the reputation of a brand of clothing influences the price, so a wine from a high profile location brings a higher price tag because people assume it’s worth more. Until countries like Chile and Argentina develop the same clout that France or Italy posess, it will be hard for them to charge as much for their wines, even though the quality may be equally high.
Bodega Elena wines are produced in Argentina, whose climate and soil are excellent for wine production. I got to taste some of their 2010 bottlings recently and was impressed.
They blend their Chardonnay with small amounts of Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier and it makes a very well balanced, food friendly white. They also make a red blend, which is about two-thirds Malbec, while the other third splits between Syrah and Bonarda.
Each of these shows off the character of the grapes, as well as the terrior of the Mendoza region. They are unique enough to stand out, yet recognizable enough to make easy food pairings.
The star of the show is their 100% Malbec, which is elegant, not overly spicy, and tastes the way Argentinian Malbec should. We paired it with a spicy corn and Poblano chowder, chicken taco salad, and barbecued chicken, all with good results.
These wines retail for $10.99 SRP and are widely available. If you haven’t tried the wines of Argentina, Bodega Elena would be an excellent place to start.
Tags: Argentina, Chardonnay, Malbec, Mendoza, Red Blends, Value Wines, Wine
