News, Awards & Reviews


2005

••• Bronze Medal 2003

••• Medium bodied with ripe, jammy cassis and red and dark berry plus hints of herbs, cedar and bell pepper. Penne puttanesca. ••• A typical peppery character. Black currant and berries dominate the nose. Soft, round tannins really balance this wine with good acidity. A lot of fruit on the front end and a spicy finish of black pepper combined with wood.
2006

••• Silver Medal 2005

••• “Don Rodolfo was a shocking wine to uncork. Malbec is notorious in California for going missing on the job. Not here! This is a two-year-old wine but with a delicious fruity flavor and Malbec’s characteristic spice. The tannins are there, though in no way overwhelming. I’d drink with wine with just about anything. At this price, this wine is a serious deal, and if you can afford $18 for a bottle of anything, I suggest you dump the stuff with the yellow label and check this out.” ••• “The Don Rodolfo 2005 Malbec is the perfect little bottle of red for those hard to pair Mexican dishes such as chili rellenos. Mexican food is always a challenge to pair with wine because of its unique flavor combinations. With the exception of big meat dishes like carne asada where a big red goes best, I like a lighter bodied red with substance to go with Mexican dishes. The Don Rodolfo 2005 Malbec fits this bill perfectly.” ••• 92 points, "Top 100 Best Values of the Year," and “100 Best Buys of the Year.” Cafayate's heights deliver intense sun and heat, which typically translates into rich, powerful reds. This one, however, seems to channel more of the area's cool nights in its subtle, spicy flavor. It's elegant and light, with strawberry and cherry flavors supported by firm tannins. It's impressively refined - especially at this price. 2004

••• Rich, juicy fruit with flavors of red berries, cassis and plum on the palate, with attractive spiciness and herbal richness. Full-bodied with a toasty, chocolaty, woody undercurrent coupled with soft, sweet, round tannins. Plus texture with just enough acidity to balance the wine. A perfect match for grilled steak. ••• Fairly earthy… the palate is expectedly chunky and meaty, with full-weight dark fruits and some rooty depth. Fairly easygoing and likable. 2003

••• Silver Medal. ••• 90 points. Ripe and warm and right for this high, equatorial region.
2006

••• Silver Medal. 2005

••• A big core of blueberry fruit, vibrant acidity and a moderate amount of ripe tannins. Goes very well with burgers and most red meats treated to the charms of the grill. 2004

••• Tannat is a rare French varietal that is assumed to have gotten its name from the heavy tannins in the wine, and thrives in South America. It’s amazing that Don Rodolfo’s young vines (six years old) produce such a full-bodied rich wine. At 6,000 feet above sea level, Don Rodolfo boasts being one of the highest altitude wineries in the world. This deep purple wine has heavy bright cherry and plum tones with a slight hint of honey and oak. The wine is dry and heavy with bright fruit that leads to a long acidic smokey finish. Try pairing this wine with beef curry and long grained rice. ••• BEST BUY. 86 Points. Tannat by nature is a hard, brooding grape, and this version from northern Argentina's Salta region (has) plenty of dark-fruit aromas and flavors. The palate is leathery but proportioned, with spice and length. 2003

••• Silver Medal. ••• Silver Medal. ••• 90 points. "Malbec on steroids. Its smaller, darker, more tannic cousin shows its attributes."
2007

••• SILVER MEDAL. 2006

••• SILVER MEDAL. ••• 98 points. "From Argentina: Wine I Can't Live Without... A lovely white wine that combines the best of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. A sweet, rose petal aroma and an easy sipping taste, the 2006 Don Rodolfo Torrontés ($10) offers a beautiful, lingering grapefruit-meets-pineapple aftertaste." 2005

••• 86 points. Scents of flowers and ripe peaches fill this rich and generous white, its fleshy texture ready to match grilled salmon. 2004

••• 90 points. "The usual viscosity and varietal concentration of a Cafayate Torrontés. Lovely." ••• This medium-bodied white offers a vibrant nose of almonds and wild flowers, and the palate displays fresh mango and lychee flavours. This unique white varietal is doing well in Argentina, and the Don Rodolfo displays the trademark flavors of the grape nicely. It's a wine that does better with food than on its own; try with a creamy pasta dish, or a salad with toasted nuts. 2003

••• BEST BUY. 85 points. Floral as it should be, with lemon and litchi aromas. Citrus controls the palate, aided by notes of green herbs. Long and zesty on the finish. A good Torrontès that's meant to be served well chilled.
2006

••• Pick of the Week. Don Rodolfo 2006 Pinot Noir; $10. This Argentine offering is from a mile-high vineyard in the Cafayate Valley, near the Bolivian border. It's a warm days/cool nights kind of place, with the added benefit of high mountain sunshine. The ultraviolet radiation brings added complexity without over-ripening. This is light and tart, beautifully aromatic and quite clean through the finish. ••• Gold Medal.