A San Martin, Argentina Cabernet Sauvignon

Can you get a fine Cab at this price?...

Parque San Martin

Argentina is a major wine producer. Nearly two-thirds of its entire wine production comes from the Mendoza region, which produces mainly red wine. While Malbec is the most common grape variety, Cabernet Sauvignon is said to be the best. The San Martin subregion is in the eastern foothills of the Andes in central eastern Argentina, not far from the Chilean border. The producer, Marumatok, also makes naturally sweet reds and an Argentine version of “Champagne”. Their website presents interesting material about the kosher marketplace. Today’s companion wine is an inexpensive kosher Cabernet Sauvignon from another Southern Hemisphere location, South Africa.

OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.

Wine Reviewed
Tekiah Cabernet Sauvignon, San Martin, Mendoza 2007 12.9% alcohol about $12

Let’s start by quoting the marketing materials. Tasting Note: (Translated from the Spanish) A very deep red color, with violet tints. Tekiah’s elegant aromas are balanced and complex. Beautifully expressed flavors of red fruit and black pepper. Kosher for Passover. (The mostomagazine website, Dec. 22, 2008) And now for my review.

Competing Mendoza Vineyard

At the first sips I found this wine mouth filling, somewhat subtle, and oaky. The initial meal was thin yellow peppers stuffed with a delicious mixture of ground turkey, rice, garlic, onion, cumin, and allspice on a boiled, sliced potato base. The wine picked up acidity; it was still good.

My next meal started with barbecued chicken wings. Now the wine’s acidity was dominant and not totally pleasant. I did taste black cherries. When it faced chili with rice it became pleasant again with fine length. It was oaky and chewy. The side dish of zucchini, squash, stewed tomatoes, and onions initially thinned the wine but it had good length and tasted of tobacco.

My final meal was baked chicken legs and sliced potatoes that had been marinated in soy and onion. With the chicken this Cab seemed not to be very present. I suppose I could be charitable and call it subtle. It did have good acidity. As it faced the potatoes this libation picked up power and was palate cleansing.

The cheese tasting was preceded with Matjes herring. The wine was quite present; it was round with almost no tannins. When it met a marbled cheddar cheese the Cabernet Sauvignon became more acidic. In the presence of a rather tasty Israeli Kashkaval sheep cheese the Cab was weak but did taste of black cherries.

Final verdict. I would not buy this wine again. The pairings were too hit and miss.

Access the companion wine A Wine Lover's Weekly Review Of $10 Wine - A Swartland, South Africa Cabernet Sauvignon

About the Author

Levi Reiss has authored or co-authored ten books on computers and the Internet, but to be honest, he would rather just drink fine Italian or other wine, accompanied by the right foods. He teaches classes in computers at an Ontario French-language community college. His wine websites include
www.theworldwidewine.com    and    http://www.wineinyourdiet.com

Visit his website devoted to Italian travel www.travelitalytravel.com

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