Winemaker Notes
A deep red color with hints of purple, this Malbec is expressive on the nose with notes of ripe black fruits, violets, and tobacco. Long and complex on the finish.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A malbec with purity and structure with a linear backbone giving the wine form and tension. Full body, blue fruits and a lively finish. Fine tannins. Drink now or better in 2018. Made from 83-year-old vines. Barrel fermented. Real Argentine malbec.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 50/50 blend of grapes from Valle de Uco and Luján de Cuyo 2014 Reserva Malbec was very impressive for the price tag it wears. For winemaker David Bonomi, 2014 was cooler than 2013, and they have lowered the effect of the oak and used well-seasoned oak barrels. It has good concentration and ripeness without excess, and a soft, juicy and chewy palate, with good consistency. It's lively and fresher than what it was in the past, thanks to the fruit from the Valle de Uco. This is the winery's flagship and bestselling wine. Production figures for this wine are mind-boggling, they produce around 1.8 million bottles of it.
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Wine Spectator
This has a silky mouthfeel, with rich, plush flavors of boysenberry, dark currant and black olive that carry plenty of creamy accents. Features dark chocolate and Asian spice details on the finely textured finish. Drink now through 2020.
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.