Senior editor James Laube, Wine Spectator's expert on the wines of California, joined the magazine in 1983.

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A Surprise Pinot Noir in Buenos Aires

Bodega Chacra Pinot Noir Río Negro Barda 2009

James Laube
Posted: March 18, 2011

For most countries tackling Pinot Noir, there’s usually only one way to go—and that’s up. Argentina’s winemakers are taking a serious stab at Pinot, the wine that many consider the world’s most challenging grape.

On my recent visit to Argentina, I tasted several very impressive bottlings, but none better than Bodega Chacra’s 2009 Barda Pinot Noir from Patagonia. The Park Hyatt Buenos Aires Hotel’s excellent Duhau Restaurant & Vinoteca, overseen by chef Federico Heinzmann, had an amazing wine list and wine bar. Sommelier Marcelo Robole offered to pour a selection of wines with our dinner, including this Pinot (about $79 on the list). Soft and fleshy, with delicate cherry, berry and rose petal notes, it—along with the other Pinots I tried—convinced me that Pinot is happening there and worth paying attention to. A solid 90 points, non-blind.

WineSpectator.com members: Read blind-tasting reviews for other wines made by Bodega Chacra.

• Plus, get scores and tasting notes for more recently rated wines from Argentina, and read James Laube’s February and March blogs from his vacation in Argentina.