Winemaker Notes
A flexible wine that can be served by the glass on its own; pairs well with pasta, fish, white meats and red meats
Blend: 90% Malbec, 9 % Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Extremely perfumed with aromas of blackberry, fresh spices and florals. Medium body, juicy and fruity with round tannins and a delicious finish. A unique Patagonian malbec nature. Drink now.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Even after only a few weeks of being bottled, the 2017 A Lisa was expressive, exuberant and open. It has a little less alcohol and more acidity than the 2016 I tasted next to it, but it is especially much cleaner and more focused. It's always a similar blend of grapes from 15- to 40-year-old vineyards, mostly Malbec with 9% Merlot and a pinch of Petit Verdot. It fermented with 10% full clusters and matured in used barriques and stainless steel vats for ten months. 2017 saw a warm couple of weeks around the harvest, but the wines show moderate to low alcohol (lower than 2016) and good freshness in a balanced year. Proprietor and winemaker Hans Vinding Diers compares it to 2011, with mostly red fruit, a touch of black too, juicy and with balanced ripeness. It has a pleasant mouthfeel, with lightness, bright fruit and very nice acidity. I read the note I wrote for the 2013, and the 2016 feels very much like that vintage, certainly closer to the 2013 than 2015, which was riper.
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.
One of the most southerly regions on the globe for fine wine production, Patagonia has experienced extraordinary vineyard expansion since the early 2000s.
Patagonia vineyards occupy the lower foothills of the Andes at 1,000 to 1,600 feet. Here cold air drops at night from incredibly steep elevations—the Andes reach well over 15,000 feet in this zone—a phenomenon that produces drastic diurnal shifts. Cold nights contrasted with hot summer days produce grapes with striking color, full ripeness, great finesse and aromatic intensity.
Favored for its luxury brands, the Patagonia wine growing region of Argentina focuses on a diverse array of international varieties: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillón and Viognier among the white grapes, and Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon for reds.