Winemaker Notes
Recommended with grilled red meats, cheeses and roasted duck.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2008 ReNacer Malbec spent 24 months in new French barriques. Aromas of toasty oak, mineral, Asian spices, lavender, and black cherry inform the nose of a dense, savory, slightly austere wine that still requires several years of cellaring to display its full potential. Drink it from 2014 to 2023.
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Wine Enthusiast
Dense blackberry fruit reigns supreme on the nose, with smoke and dark, earthy notes lying in wait. The palate has a firm tightness and oaky black-fruit flavors that offer a twinge of coconut and herbs. Toasty and chocolaty on the finish.
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.