Winemaker Notes
The 2019 vintage will go down as one of the best vintages of the decade with red wines showing outstanding quality. The 2019 Reserva Malbec is an intense red color with purplish hues. In the nose, it is an expressive wine with ripe black fruits, violets, spices and tobacco. In the mouth, it is wide and fleshy with a lingering finish.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This has rich aromas of baked blueberries, cassis, violets, dark chocolate and licorice. It’s full-bodied with firm, sleek tannins and fresh acidity. Fruity and flavorful with a medium finish.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The peachy and soft 2019 Reserva Malbec has varietal aromas and flavors, a juicy palate with nice balance and a clean and fruit-driven finish with very fine tannins. Very good for the price asked.
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Wine Enthusiast
Gritty blackberry and black-cherry aromas are direct and and honest. The mouthfeel is on the money, with depth and smooth tannins. This Malbec from an excellent vintage bursts with dark berry and plum flavors backed by peppery spice and a hint of blackened toast. Drink through 2023.
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.