Winemaker Notes
Critical Acclaim
All VintagesThis has aromas of mulberries, blackberries, peppercorns, olives, hot stones and spice box. Full-bodied with firm, fine tannins. Structured. Firm, mineral finish. Malbec, cabernet sauvignon and petit verdot.
In 1998, Patrick d’Aulan expanded his family’s wine horizons (they own Château Sansonnet in St-Emilion and Château Dereszla in Tokaj) and purchased his first vineyard in Mendoza. This wine comes from their Albaneve vineyard in the Uco Valley, where Didier Debono blends malbec (58 percent) with cabernet sauvignon and petit verdot. This 2019 is restrained, its faintly spicy tannins framing a distant core of crunchy red-plum flavors. Though petit verdot is a small portion of the blend, it contributes persistent, broad tannins, while potent acidity offers some bright.
A suave blend, with a core of plum and cherry flavors, plus peppercorn and loam accents. This has lively mineral acidity keeping things going on to the finish, where tannic grip checks in. Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot.
Sweet aromas of maraschino cherry complement notes of oak-driven vanilla bean. A good amount of the cranberry, cherry and raspberry flavors are lifted by vigorous acidity on the smooth palate. It’s full-bodied and has a finish marked by notes of chocolatecovered coffee beans.
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.
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.