Achaval Ferrer Finca Bella Vista Malbec 2007

Professional Ratings

• 96 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
  The 2007 Finca Bella Vista is the first bottling of this cuvee since the 2004 vintage because 2005 and 2006 were wiped out by hail. The Bella Vista vineyard was planted in 1910 with yields for this wine at a miniscule 0.75 tons per acre. The wine was aged for 15 months in 100% new French oak. A glass-coating opaque purple, it offers up an alluring bouquet of smoke, scorched earth, incense, violets, black cherry, and blackberry. Medium- to full-bodied, velvety-textured, and surprisingly forward, this voluptuous effort has gobs of layered sweet fruit, earth and spice notes, plenty of concealed fine grained tannin, and a lengthy finish. The temptation will be to drink this hedonistic effort without delay. However, it will reward extended cellaring and should be at its best from 2013 to 2022.
• 95 Wine Spectator
  Very dense but supersleek, with gorgeous boysenberry and raspberry confiture notes stitched together by melted licorice, black tea and fruitcake notes. The long finish just glides along despite its obvious weight. Shows impressive precision and balance. Drink now through 2015.
• 93 Wine Enthusiast
  Electric purple in color, with a concentrated, deep nose of mineral, black plum and toast. The palate is lush and giant, but balanced perfectly by natural acidity and fine tannins. Huge berry and plum flavors are dense, and vanilla, coffee and herb flavors grace the long finish. Drink from 2010 through 2016.
• 92 Wine & Spirits
  At first, this focuses on concentrated black fruit ripeness, a huge wine that slowly yields sweet and meaty flavors extending down into lush depths. It should evolve well with five years of bottle age.