Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2012 Malbec Jamilla's Vineyard is a subtle Malbec from a vineyard in Perdriel. It is a little closed and is a wine you need to coax. It has a mineral profile, and ends very tasty with that tactile feeling akin to licking stones that leaves a somewhat salty sensation. The nose is very subtle, a little shy, and slowly opens up and reveals a serious, dare I say mineral, stony profile, where the nose takes you to the gravels found on the soils. Lovely Perdriel, more about the place than the grape. There are only 12 hectares of vineyards in Jamilla's, so quite a small vineyard for the Argentinean standards. There's not a huge variation in soils and I see some commonalities with the Syrah here. Two great terroir wines.
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James Suckling
Minerals on the nose with a big layer of crushed black fruits and some light vanilla. This has a good core of fruit as well as good tannin structure. Slightly jammy but not excessively done. Drink or hold.
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Wine Spectator
A big, ripe red, with notes of dried meats accenting the berry and cherry tart flavors. Creamy and lush midpalate, offering a peppery finish filled with smoke and spice flavors. Drink now through 2019.
Casarena is forging a different path from the other wineries in Mendoza. Instead of searching for undiscovered terroirs in new places like the Uco Valley, it is discovering the hidden gems in its home region of Lujan de Cuyo—a place full of rich tradition, potential, and unique micro-terroirs. Casarena has purchased as well as planted vineyards in several distinctive sites, and they control all aspects of winegrowing and winemaking in order to maximize the flavor expression of these terroirs.
The name "Casarena" is a creative merging of the Spanish words "casa" (house) and "arena (sand), and is a tribute to their restored 1930s winery made of sand-colored stone and the sandy soil that their estate is built on. All theses features gather together unbeatable height, climate and soil conditions to cultivate premium vineyards. The Wine Making team is headed by Michel Rolland.
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.