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
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Vinous
The 2020 Malbec Selección de Bodega hails from the Uco Valley and was aged for 20 months in half-new French oak barrels. Dark purple with a murky sheen. The ripe nose delivers plum and blackberry jam, mountain herbs, violets, roses, cedar and baking spices. Indulgent and somewhat chalky in the mouth, the finely-grained tannins and juicy flow contrast with a subtle warmth, resulting in a liqueur-like sensation. This well-crafted, ripe, high-altitude red is from a warm, dry vintage.
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James Suckling
Expressive and complex nose of wild blueberries, cherries, mulberries, chocolate, licorice and dried thyme. It’s full-bodied with tight-grained tannins and deliciously textured layers of wild fruit and herbs. Lots packed in with plenty of structure, too.
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Wine Enthusiast
Aged in oak barrels, this Malbec offers a nose of sweet spices that include cinnamon and clove. The palate is structured, ripe and intense. Enough freshness lifts flavors of rosemary and other dried herbs, joined by earthy plums and light notes of spices.
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.