Argentina Wine Guide.com

El Galgo Merlot 2005

Bodega

Range

Wine

Vintage

Origin

Price

El Galgo

n/a

Merlot

2005

Valle de Uco, Mendoza

AR$30 (US$10)

Appearance

Light, clear scarlet red.

Nose

Lots of berry fruit - rapsberries, strawberries - and ripe plums. Fresh minerality.

Palate

Light-bodied. Berry fruit on the palate reflects the aromas, but is fairly thin-tasting. Fairly tannic, but not overly aggressive. Some liquorice and coffee notes.

Overall

This Merlot has had a reasonable stint in second use French oak, and has picked up some interesting tertiary compelxities as a result. However, the fruit (sourced from the cooler, higher-altitude La Consulta region in Valle de Uco) is fairly austere, lacking the mid-palate presence and roundness you might look for from a Merlot. Perfectly drinkable, but there are plenty of better choices in this price bracket.

***

(November 06)