Winemaker Notes
Keeping the elegant and balanced house style, Mosquita Muerta Malbec reveals aromas of flowers, wild berries, herbs and moderate influence from the oak aging.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The riper character of the vintage comes through in the top-of-the-range and eponymous 2017 Mosquita Muerta Malbec. But the wine manages to keep its poise and reveals good freshness to come into a different balance than in cooler years. The grapes come from high-altitude vineyards in the Valle de Uco, and only half of the wine matured in oak barrels to keep the oaking very discrete and completely in the background.
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Decanter
Restrained nose with savoury and herbal notes over liquorice undertones. Intense palate of wild forest fruits, supple and rounded.
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.
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.