Winemaker Notes
It goes great with many foods, especially meat and barbeque. Unique recipe ideas include Grilled Polenta with Wild Mushroom Ragout, Grilled Quail with Quinoa, Currant and Pine Nut Pilaf, or Wild Boar, Sage and Dried Cherry Risotto.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This is refined and focused with dark fruit and minerals. Tea undertones. Medium to full body, ultra-fine tannins and a beautiful finish. Precise.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A Malbec from La Consulta, the 2016 Malbec Pizzella Vineyard was partly aged in used oak barrels for 12 months. This is clearly my favorite among all the single-vineyard reds, as it has varietal character and is clean, focused and fresh. It is clearly better than the 2017 too.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: When I ask myself, "Where in the world can I find the best red wine values?" I turn the page to Argentina and get the La Posta Pizzella Malbec. The 2016 vintage is one of the winery's best, and I have been tasting the wines for more than a decade. TASTING NOTES: This wine is bright and lasting on the palate. Its aromas and flavors of black fruit, savory oak, and leather should make it a choice matching wine with grilled beef of any kind. (Tasted: October 26, 2018, San Francisco, CA)
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.