Finca de los Padrillos Malbec 2020
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James
Suckling
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Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
A young profile wine, it has a fresh style with violet floral aromas and flavors of plum, cherries, dried berries, and an aftertaste of white peppercorns. Ideal to consume now for its robust and untameable vitality.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Aromas of ripe cherries, strawberries, plum pie and citrus zest. It’s medium-bodied with firm, creamy tannins. Velvety and succulent with pretty spice notes on the finish.
Other Vintages
2022-
James
Suckling
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James
Suckling
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James
Suckling
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Jeb
Dunnuck
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James
Suckling
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Tasting
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Founded by Ernesto Catena, a fourth-generation winemaker of Italian descent, Padrillos wines are inspired by Ernesto’s passion for horses. Ernesto has more than 30 retired polo ponies from his own stud farm that now enjoy life on his vineyards in Mendoza. Padrillos (stallions) expresses the wild spirit of Argentina’s true varietals. Having spent a part of his life working as a designer and being a fervent student of the Renaissance humanism, Ernesto sees it as his mission to transform everything in his wine world into art, from growing the grapes to making wine to selling it.
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.
By far the largest and best-known winemaking province in Argentina, Mendoza is responsible for over 70% of the country’s enological output. Set in the eastern foothills of the Andes Mountains, the climate is dry and continental, presenting relatively few challenges for viticulturists during the growing season. Mendoza, divided into several distinctive sub-regions, including Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley, is the source of some of the country’s finest wines.
For many wine lovers, Mendoza is practically synonymous with Malbec. Originally a Bordelaise variety brought to Argentina by the French in the mid-1800s, here it found success and renown that it never knew in its homeland where a finicky climate gives mixed results. Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot and Pinot Noir are all widely planted here as well (and sometimes even blended with each other or Malbec). Mendoza's main white varieties include Chardonnay, Torrontés, Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon.