Winemaker Notes
Complex on the nose due to the three-varietal blend, it exudes notes of violet, pepper, cinnamon and licorice. In the mouth, it is a balanced combination of Malbec's silkiness, Cabernet Sauvignon's power and structure, and Petit Verdot's intensity.
Blend: 60% Malbec, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Some spiced strawberries and black cherries to the nose with a hint of tobacco and olives. Juicy and chewy on the palate with a fruity and spicy finish. A blend of malbec, cabernet sauvignon and petit verdot.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2020 Atemporal was produced with 60% Malbec, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petit Verdot from Campo de los Andes in the Valle de Uco. It's powerful and ripe without excess at 14.5% alcohol, reflecting the warmer year, which also had an effect on the quality of the tannins. 68,000 bottles produced. After one year in 225-liter French oak barrels it was bottled in August 2022.
Rating: 91+
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.
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.