Winemaker Notes
Deep purple hues and attractive magenta highlights. On the nose, there are aromas of ripe plum, spices, vanilla, dark chocolate and smoke from oak aging. The palate is perceived as sweet, due to its velvety, yet strong tannins, which allow the wine to continue aging into the next decade. Particular Malbec is a complex and harmonious wine with good acidity, great structure, and a persistent finish.
Blend: 96% Malbec, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Black fruit, cooked berries, mocha, mushrooms and baking spices on the nose. It’s full-bodied with creamy tannins. Mellowed with well-integrated fruit and earthier, mushroom notes, evolving to a delicious, spicy finish.
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Decanter
Appealing nose of ripe black berries and black cherry, edged in violets with whispers of smoke and spice. Ripe black-fruited palate with gentle tannins and a lush, velvety mouthfeel, balanced by fresh acidity and framed by judicious oak use. The blend also includes 4% Cabernet Sauvignon.
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.