Winemaker Notes
Pair with slow-braised short ribs, bacon-wrapped dates, or spicy cheeses.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This shows dark-fruited and earthy character with plum skins, smoked cedar and walnuts on the nose. Juicy and broad with a medium to full body and firm but smooth and velvety tannins. Long and succulent. Drink now or hold.
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Wine Enthusiast
Coming from Agrelo in Luján de Cuyo this wine offers an inviting nose of violets and red and dark fruit. It has a sturdy structure, where silky tannins allow the mix of flavors to glide smoothly throughout the finish. Layers of chocolate, plums, cherries and nutmeg shape the palate.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2021 Malbec Naoki's Vineyard introduces itself with a leathery, herbal nose supported by a core of dried red and black fruits, followed by an elegantly enveloping palate. It continues with a lavish, creamy finish propelled by fine-grained tannins. This is a rich and seductive example of Agrelo Malbec with savory overtones.
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.