Savor
Swallow, then wait. Don't reach for the next sip yet. Pay attention to what lingers — the finish.
Three things to notice: Length — flavors disappear in 2 seconds (short), 10 (medium), or unfold for 30+ (long)? Evolution — do new flavors appear after swallowing? Great wines change. Cleanliness — pleasant aftertaste, or harsh and bitter?
Length of finish is one of the cleanest indicators of wine quality. Savoring is the step most people skip — and it's the most important.
Argentine signatures — what to look for
Malbec — deep purple; smell black plum + violet + (with oak) mocha; taste medium-to-full body with soft plush tannins. Uco Valley = fresher, more floral; Luján de Cuyo = plusher.
Torrontés — pale lemon-gold; the smell does the work — jasmine, orange blossom, peach. The trick: dry on the palate even though it smells sweet. That contrast is its signature.
Cabernet Franc — deeper than Pinot, lighter than Cab Sauv; smell for graphite, herb, red plum, violet. Argentina's Uco Valley examples are some of the most exciting in the world right now.
