Winemaker Notes
The nose reveals aromas of black fruit such as blackcurrant and blueberry. On the palate, the wine exhibits excellent balance, soft tannins confer its elegant structure and persistent freshness contributes to the harmonious finish.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Deep and ripe nose with plenty of ripe blackberries, cedar and black truffles. A hint of black pepper, too. Plush and generous on the palate with plenty of sweet fruit. Tannins are really tight and compact with a long, focused finish. Has the warm-vintage ripeness but it retains freshness. Needs some time. Drink from 2025.
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Wine Spectator
Generous and concentrated, offering floral blackberry and plum flavors against loam, olive and graphite notes. Shows just enough freshness to keep the ripeness in check, ending with dark chocolate notes and smooth-textured tannins. Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2033.
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.