Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Aromas of violets, cassis and blueberries sit fresh on the nose of this striking pinot noir. This has a very rich, attractively complex style with so much to offer in every regard. The palate has multiple phases of fresh, red and blue-fruit flavors with fine, layered tannins. The supple, long finish holds very focused, in alluringly spicy mode. Drink or hold.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The highest vines in Gualtallary (at an impressive 1,500 meters above sea level) have produced an impressive 2018 Le Paradis Pinot Noir, which is nuanced, insinuating and detailed with some stony austerity and a sense of inner strength and energy that is gobsmacking. It comes from 1.1 hectares planted in 2011 with Dijon's clone 667 that was micro-vinified in 12 separate fermentations in stainless steel and rolling barrels. The wine matured in French barriques for 18 months. It has pungent and deep flavors and great precision. 2,340 bottles were filled in December 2019.
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Wine Enthusiast
The vineyards are in the highlands of Gualtallary, Uco Valley. A beautiful place that seems to be a paradise for Pinot Noir. The nose reveals attractive aromas of cranberry and hints of thyme in this red that has depth and silky texture. Subtle notes of citrus fruit, red berries, mushrooms, dried aromatic herbs and dark chocolate shavings contribute to a lasting impression.
Editors' Choice -
Wine Spectator
This red delivers dried rose petal and cinnamon bark notes, with juicy strawberry and cherry flavors that gain intensity around fresh acidity. Ends with fine tannins and notes of river rock.
Thin-skinned, finicky and temperamental, Pinot Noir is also one of the most rewarding grapes to grow and remains a labor of love for some of the greatest vignerons in Burgundy. Fairly adaptable but highly reflective of the environment in which it is grown, Pinot Noir prefers a cool climate and requires low yields to achieve high quality. Outside of France, outstanding examples come from in Oregon, California and throughout specific locations in wine-producing world. Somm Secret—André Tchelistcheff, California’s most influential post-Prohibition winemaker decidedly stayed away from the grape, claiming “God made Cabernet. The Devil made Pinot Noir.”
With a winning combination of cool weather, high elevation and well-draining alluvial soils, it is no surprise that Mendoza’s Uco Valley is one of the most exciting up-and-coming wine regions in Argentina. Healthy, easy-to-manage vines produce low yields of high-quality fruit, which in turn create flavorful, full-bodied wines with generous acidity.
This is the source of some of the best Malbec in Mendoza, which can range from value-priced to ultra-premium. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay also perform well here.