Winemaker Notes
100% Oak Barrel aged for 16 months in new French oak. Bottled 12months before release.
Blend: 40% Malbec, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A very intense nose of blackberries, mulberries, violet extract, charcuterie, Indian spices and really flamboyant licorice. Full body, lots of juicy, grainy tannins, tangy acidity, tons of dark plum fruit and a long, chewy finish. With a little less wood and more polish, this would have scored even higher. A blend of malbec, merlot and cabernet sauvignon. Drink in 2022.
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Wine & Spirits
A blend of 40 percent malbec with equal parts cabernet sauvignon and merlot, this comes primarily from the Uco Valley and Luján de Cuyo. It aged 18 months in barrels, mostly used, and respects the fruit character, which prevails in the black cherry and violet notes of malbec, along with the herbal scents and firm tannins of cabernet. It’s a substantial wine with great freshness and dynamism.
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Wine Enthusiast
Ripe blackberry and black cherry aromas are a touch candied, with a mulchy hint of tree bark lending earthiness. The palate on this Bordeaux blend is full and lush, with a beam of tartaric acidity. Blackberry and cassis flavors weigh in by the ton, while this is toasty and coffee-flavored on a calm, bulky finish. Drink through 2024.
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Wine Spectator
A rich chocolaty aroma leads to deeply spiced flavors of dark plum, kirsch and mocha. Creamy midpalate, with a finish that is filled with notes of cocoa powder and raspberry. Malbec, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2022.
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.