Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Wow. This has beautifully intense fruit aromas and flavors with ripe blue fruit and mulberries, as well as red plums. The palate has immensely fleshy presence and impressive length.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
I find the oak to be better integrated in the 2017 Synthesis Malbec than in the 2015 I tasted previously. This 2017 is expressive of the variety, with violets and wild berries and herbs, quite pure and expressive. The palate is medium-bodied, has fine tannins and is quite elegant and balanced. This wine comes from an ungrafted plot within the estate vineyards. 9,380 bottles were filled in July 2018.
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.
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.