Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The limestone starts in the Reserva/Reserve range, of which I tasted the 2018 Malbec Reserve, which is produced from vineyards on limestone soils in Altamira and Gualtallary. This is incredibly elegant, floral and expressive, with superb minerality on the palate. It has fine-grained tannins and is silky, tasty, long and expressive. Superb! This wine is all about texture, and it's the best reserve I ever remember.
Rating: 94+ -
Wine & Spirits
Alberto Antonini and Antonio Morescalchi began this project after a visit to Mendoza in the mid-1990s, now working with wine geologist Pedro Parra and winemaker Attilio Pagli. This malbec has a balance of weight and freshness, transitioning into blueberry flavors and violet florals in the middle. It’s lean and clean, with an earthy softness at the end.
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.
With a winning combination of cool weather, high elevation and well-draining alluvial soils, it is no surprise that Mendoza’s Uco Valley is one of the most exciting up-and-coming wine regions in Argentina. Healthy, easy-to-manage vines produce low yields of high-quality fruit, which in turn create flavorful, full-bodied wines with generous acidity.
This is the source of some of the best Malbec in Mendoza, which can range from value-priced to ultra-premium. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay also perform well here.