Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Norton's 2007 Malbec Privada is medium purple in color with aromas of damp earth, spice box, a hint of balsamic, violets, and black cherry. Medium-bodied, savory, ripe, and concentrated, on the palate it reveals good volume and balance leading to a medium-length finish. This tasty effort can be approached now and will drink well through 2018.
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Wine Spectator
An ambitious style, with very bold licorice, fruitcake and spice aromas giving way to richly layered blackberry, raspberry ganache and linzer torte notes. The long, toasty finish has plenty of fruit in reserve. Malbec, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2011. 600 cases imported.
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.
With vineyards tretching along the eastern side of the Andes Mountains from Patagonia in the south to Salta in the north, Argentina is one of the world’s largest and most dynamic wine producing countries—and most important in South America.
Since the late 20th century vineyard investments, improved winery technology and a commitment to innovation have all contributed to the country’s burgeoning image as a producer of great wines at all price points. The climate here is diverse but generally continental and agreeable, with hot, dry summers and cold snowy winters—a positive, as snow melt from the Andes Mountains is used heavily to irrigate vineyards. Grapes very rarely have any difficulty achieving full ripeness.
Argentina’s famous Mendoza region, responsible for more than 70% of Argentina’s wine production, is further divided into several sub-regions, with Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley most noteworthy. Red wines dominate here, especially Malbec, the country’s star variety, while Chardonnay is the most successful white.
The province of San Juan is best known for blends of Bonarda and Syrah. Torrontés is a specialty of the La Rioja and Salta regions, the latter of which is also responsible for excellent Malbecs grown at very high elevation.