Winemaker Notes
Deep red color with violet tones. Very intense bouquet with red cherry fruit and spices. Complex and well balanced with vanilla and chocolate notes from the oak. A modern style wine, with sweet silky tannins.
Great with all kind of grilled meats, games and cheeses.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Lots of juicy, ripe blue and black fruit here with some rosemary stems, fresh walnuts, capers and flowers, too. It’s full-bodied with creamy tannins and a supple finish.
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Wine & Spirits
Hervé Joyaux Fabre, born into a négociant family in Bordeaux, came to Mendoza in search of vineyards in the 1990s. A portion of this wine grows in the vineyard around the winery (the first vineyard Fabre purchased, planted in 1908). It has a persistent core of blueberry and coffee flavors initially obscured by elevated alcohol and sandalwood notes. That core outlasts the interference, though, and a wild decant helps to muscle it open, bringing the fruit flavors forward.
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.