Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Very youthful, black and blue fruit with a whiff of violets, iodine and spice. Concentrated, fresh palate with flavors swathed in a tight backbone of finely grained tannin. Needs time to come together. A blend of malbec, syrah and cabernet franc.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
It seems like there was a jump of eras between the 2012 I last tasted and the 2017 Gran Corte. A blend of 60% Malbec and 40% Cabernet Franc, it's quite a different blend from before; the wine is not ripe, earthy and oaky as it was before, but powerful, balanced and with integrated oak, even after it spent its élevage in new French oak barrels. Bravo!
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: Among other things, Mendoza, Argentina, produces some of the world's finest, super-premium red wines. The 2017 Flechas de Los Andes Gran Corte is such a wine. TASTING NOTES: This wine excels with aromas and flavors of bold black fruits, an excellent accent of oak, and a long finish. Pair it with a rare slice of prime rib. (Tasted: June 19, 2022, San Francisco, CA)
The name "Flechas de Los Andes" or "Andes arrows" refers to the 5 arrows, the symbol of the Rothschild family (symbolizing the five brothers at the origin of this dynasty of entrepreneurs). At the foot of the Andes, 120 km south of Mendoza, the Malbec variety rules as the king of this unique terroir. Flechas de los Andes is the result of an alliance between Baron Benjamin de Rothschild and Laurent Dassault, reflecting the fulfillment of their quest to find a great terroir at the base of the Andes. In the hot, dry climate of Mendoza, the Malbec vines seem to have found a special place to express themselves, in the pebble and gravel-strewn alluvial terrain at 1,100 m just at the base of the Andes cordillera. The utmost care, if not perfectionism, is given to vineyard operations in pursuit of the dual objectives of quality and environmental soundness. “French-style” viticultural work is carried out by an Argentine team that aims to obtain low yields and thus produce high quality grapes that are naturally concentrated and ripe.
Built in 2003 and operational since the April 2004 harvest, this Argentinian winery is a synthesis of the knowledge acquired from Baron Edmond de Rothschild and his partners’ experience in Bordeaux and around the world. Every harvest is handpicked, hand selected & vinified with the most modern equipment, to the highest quality standards. Out of this unique terroir, which enjoys a dry climate tempered by high altitude, and out of the owners’ passionate interest in the estate, a pure Argentinian Malbec has emerged. The Flechas vineyards now extend over more than a hundred hectares.
With hundreds of red grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended red wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged resulting in a wide variety of red wine styles. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a red wine blend variety that creates a fruity and full-bodied wine would do well combined with one that is naturally high in acidity and tannins. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.
How to Serve Red Wine
A common piece of advice is to serve red wine at “room temperature,” but this suggestion is imprecise. After all, room temperature in January is likely to be quite different than in August, even considering the possible effect of central heating and air conditioning systems. The proper temperature to aim for is 55° F to 60° F for lighter-bodied reds and 60° F to 65° F for fuller-bodied wines.
How Long Does Red Wine Last?
Once opened and re-corked, a bottle stored in a cool, dark environment (like your fridge) will stay fresh and nicely drinkable for a day or two. There are products available that can extend that period by a couple of days. As for unopened bottles, optimal storage means keeping them on their sides in a moderately humid environment at about 57° F. Red wines stored in this manner will stay good – and possibly improve – for anywhere from one year to multiple decades. Assessing how long to hold on to a bottle is a complicated science. If you are planning long-term storage of your reds, seek the advice of a wine professional.
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.