Winemaker Notes
The aromas of sweet French oak and espresso get more complex with every swirl of the glass, unveiling black plum, ripe raspberry, and violet aromas. The wine is full-bodied, dense, deep and chewy with flavors of black raspberry, plums, roasted herbs, and mint. This beauty could be enjoyed now with a nice ribeye steak or leg of lamb since it shows incredible balance for such a concentrated wine.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This is a focused and very polished malbec with dark berries such as blackberries and hints of black truffles and walnut shells. Full body, tight and focused with firm and silky tannins and a delicious finish. Drink or hold.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Cropped from a typical El Niño vintage that was cooler and with a late harvest, the 2016 Malbec comes from their old vineyard Finca Drummond in Luján de Cuyo, which was planted ungrafted 88 years ago at 980 meters in altitude. It had a classical vinification in stainless steel followed by 12 months in French oak barrels, divided equally between new, second use and third use. There is some more freshness here compared with the 2015, and it's clean, precise and somewhat serious, quite surprising for this price level. It has some floral notes, a very balanced palate and very fine tannins. It has the profile of a wine that should develop slowly and nicely in bottle. 80,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in November 2017.
Mendel is the first name of the owner's father, a man who came to Argentina with nothing and ended up a successful businessman in different industries. He was also a man that loved the finest things that life had to offer, particularly wine. His daughter, Anabelle, honors her father by seeking perfection in her and Roberto's wines with his name on the label.
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.