Mendel Unus 2012
-
James
Suckling -
Robert
Parker -
Wine
Enthusiast
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
James Suckling
A red with dark berry, forest floor and currants. Such purity. Full body, ultra-fine tannins and a purity of fruit that tells you how serious it is. A blend of 65% malbec, 25% cabernet sauvignon and 10% petit verdot.
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2012 Unus is a blend of 65% Malbec, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petit Verdot sourced from different subzones of Mendoza. It fermented in stainless steel and matured in barrel for around one year, in a mixture of new and second-use. Tasted next to some 2013s you immediately feel the ripeness of the vintage (which the wine clearly shows, as it should be), with more aromas of plums and dark cherries and plenty of spices. The palate is medium to full-bodied with the grapes nicely integrated. It feels very compact and serious. I tasted 2005, 2007 and 2010, and I found the iron and blood character of the Cabernet from Perdriel, mostly in the 2005, which was a cool and somewhat wet vintage. The 2005 is perfect for drinking and the 2010 still feels a bit young. 2012 is a warmer vintage and might develop faster, but for sure it's a wine that can age.
-
Wine Enthusiast
With oak-driven aromas of mocha, coffee, cedar and berry fruits, this blend of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot is effusive on the nose. Concentrated and huge, but well balanced, it offers high-volume berry, herb, chocolate and spice flavors—the lynchpins of excellent wines. Spicy, long and elegant on the finish, this is the real deal. Drink through 2021.
Other Vintages
2021-
James
Suckling -
Wine
Enthusiast
-
Robert
Parker -
Wine
Enthusiast
-
James
Suckling -
Robert
Parker
-
James
Suckling -
Robert
Parker
-
James
Suckling -
Wine
Enthusiast -
Robert
Parker -
Wine
Spectator
-
Wine
Enthusiast -
Robert
Parker -
James
Suckling
-
James
Suckling -
Wine
Enthusiast -
Robert
Parker
-
James
Suckling
-
James
Suckling -
Robert
Parker -
Wine
Enthusiast
-
Robert
Parker
-
James
Suckling
-
Robert
Parker -
Wine
Spectator -
Wine
Enthusiast
-
Robert
Parker -
James
Suckling
Mendel is the first name of the owner's father, a man who came to Argentina with nothing and ended up a successful businessman in different industries. He was also a man that loved the finest things that life had to offer, particularly wine. His daughter, Anabelle, honors her father by seeking perfection in her and Roberto's wines with his name on the label.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
With vineyards tretching along the eastern side of the Andes Mountains from Patagonia in the south to Salta in the north, Argentina is one of the world’s largest and most dynamic wine producing countries—and most important in South America.
Since the late 20th century vineyard investments, improved winery technology and a commitment to innovation have all contributed to the country’s burgeoning image as a producer of great wines at all price points. The climate here is diverse but generally continental and agreeable, with hot, dry summers and cold snowy winters—a positive, as snow melt from the Andes Mountains is used heavily to irrigate vineyards. Grapes very rarely have any difficulty achieving full ripeness.
Argentina’s famous Mendoza region, responsible for more than 70% of Argentina’s wine production, is further divided into several sub-regions, with Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley most noteworthy. Red wines dominate here, especially Malbec, the country’s star variety, while Chardonnay is the most successful white.
The province of San Juan is best known for blends of Bonarda and Syrah. Torrontés is a specialty of the La Rioja and Salta regions, the latter of which is also responsible for excellent Malbecs grown at very high elevation.