Winemaker Notes
Deep violet color. Aromas of berries, with graphite, black cherries and spices notes. Great concentration, firm tannins, fresh acidity and long finish.
Professional Ratings
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
I also tasted the 2017 Selección de Bodega Malbec, which was produced with grapes from their Alluvia vineyards in Gualtallary at 1,350 meters in altitude. It's riper than the 2016 I tasted next to it, but it also has more acidity, so it comes through as nicely balanced. This is rounder and lusher, with a round palate, and there's more concentration and power, but it's nicely balanced.
Rating: 92+
-
Wine Enthusiast
Leathery blackberry and cassis aromas precede a crisp, linear palate with piping acidity. A blast of mixed-berry flavors is more surface-level than deep and complex. As with the nose and palate, this Malbec from a chalk-rich alluvial vineyard finishes with pep. Drink through 2032.
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.