Winemaker Notes
The 2017 Riccitelli Tinto de la Casa Malbec is the result of the co-fermentation Malbec-Malbec coming from two different vineyards. The wine is a deep purple color with a floral and spicy nose. A complex, rich wine and soft tannins.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This has very fragrant and complex aromas that really entice with a core of fresh, ripe fresh summer berries. The palate is very silky, very smooth and very juicy with a long and seamless build.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Along with the white blend, there is also a 2017 Tinto de la Casa (house red), which is a 50/50 blend of Malbec from Las Compuertas and Gualtallary. It was co-fermented in small French oak vats with 50% whole clusters and indigenous yeasts, and the wine was kept in those vats until the following vintage. It has a very aromatic and balsamic profile with great depth and the combination of two zones that are very different from each other, fermented together and really nicely assembled. So, it has the fruit from Luján and the serious tannins from Gualtallary and is really compact and integrated, with incredible intensity and depth for this price. Bravo!
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.