Winemaker Notes
70% Malbec, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, 5% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The red blend 2013 Blend de Tintas has aromas of herbs and ripe berries intermixed with an earthy touch. It's a Malbec-based blend with some 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc in similar proportions. It fermented in open top oak barrels and egg-shaped cement vats. 2013 was a cool year and produced wines with good tension and a perfect, slow ripening. Both the palate and nose showed that freshness, with acid berry aromas and nicely integrated oak. The palate is medium-bodied, refreshing, tasty and easy to drink. 4,500 bottles produced.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
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.