Winemaker Notes
#17 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2022
Deep red color with intense ruby hues. Very fruity on the nose, with blackcurrant, strawberry, floral and minty notes coming through, followed by aromas of cassis, graphite and coffee bean. On the palate, the wine is balanced and pleasant, with texture and refined tannins. A fruity middle palate leads to an elegant and long aftertaste.Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Elegantly detailed aromas of violet, mace and crushed raspberry pave a nice entry to this richly textured red, which shows fleshy plum and raspberry flavors midpalate, lightened by an underpinning of minerality, before toasty mocha notes and round tannins arrive on the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
There's more ripeness in the nose and flavors of the 2020 Amancaya, reflecting the warm and dry vintage. It has 14.5% alcohol and was produced with a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Malbec, reversing the dominant grape to combine the fruit and freshness of Malbec with the power and complexity of Cabernet Sauvignon. Fifty percent of the volume matured in oak barrels while the other half was kept in concrete to keep the fruit-driven profile with a soft palate and round tannins.
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.