Bodega Noemia de Patagonia Rio Negro Valley Malbec 2013
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Winemaker Notes
Pairs well with lamb, red meats, game and is a great accompaniment to cheese boards.
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James Suckling
The clarity and precision in this wine shows incredible blueberry, blackberry, hazelnut, and hints of stone. Full body, amazing complexity. It goes on for minutes. Chewy yet offers a bright austerity. Drink or hold.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Still a baby, the 2013 Noemía is possibly the best ever produced at this address, and I can say so because I had the luxury to taste all the vintages ever produced since 2001 (no 2005 was bottled). This pure Malbec is sourced from a 1.5-hectare vineyard planted in 1932 in Mainque in Río Negro, Patagonia. The wine is always raised in brand new French oak barriques for some 18 months, but it's a wine made for the long haul. Right now there are some notes of exotic woods and spices intermixed with aromas of blueberries, blood oranges, violets and even rose petals and it is developing subtle nuances as the wine warms up in the glass. The palate has a cool effect, maybe it's the acidity or the chalky tannins that stick to your teeth and leave a tasty, umami-like, almost salty sensation of deep coolness in your mouth. Precise and pure, the tannins are sophisticated and the overall balance is superb. My guess is that this will evolve magnificently and for a long time in bottle. As far as track record, even the initial 2001 when tasted in 2015 was not over the hill, and the vineyards and winery work has improved greatly since then, so I'm sure this will be very long-lived. Let's check it back in ten years time. Kudos to winemaker Hans Vinding Diers! 5,500 bottles of this heavenly elixir were produced.
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Wine Spectator
A perfumed and pure-tasting red, with lots of mint and minerally notes to the rose-petal infused flavors of blackberry, dark currant and huckleberry. Asian spice accents flood the ripe finish. Needs time in the cellar to flesh out. Best from 2016 through 2021.
Other Vintages
2016-
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Celebrated for its bold flavors and supple texture, Malbec has enjoyed runaway success in Argentina since the late 20th century. The grape originated in Bordeaux, France, where it historically contributed color and tannin to blends. A French agronomist, who saw great potential for the variety in Mendoza’s hot, high-altitude landscape, brought Malbec to Argentina in 1868. Somm Secret—If you’re trying to please a crowd, Malbec is generally a safe bet with its combination of dense fruit and soft tannins.
One of the most southerly regions on the globe for fine wine production, Patagonia has experienced extraordinary vineyard expansion since the early 2000s.
Patagonia vineyards occupy the lower foothills of the Andes at 1,000 to 1,600 feet. Here cold air drops at night from incredibly steep elevations—the Andes reach well over 15,000 feet in this zone—a phenomenon that produces drastic diurnal shifts. Cold nights contrasted with hot summer days produce grapes with striking color, full ripeness, great finesse and aromatic intensity.
Favored for its luxury brands, the Patagonia wine growing region of Argentina focuses on a diverse array of international varieties: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillón and Viognier among the white grapes, and Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon for reds.