Winemaker Notes
Pair with Mediterranean food or typical Argentinean dishes such as asado criollo and beef empanadas.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A malbec with muscle showing blackberry, blueberry and stone aromas and flavors. Full body, firm tannins and a fruity finish. Linear and structured. Precise. Apparently this is a new direction for this producer and I like it. Better in 2018.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
An excellent effort, the bold and lively 2014 Nieto Senetiner Don Nicanor Barrel Select Malbec stands up the best examples of this grape variety worldwide. The wine's black fruit, currants, and sweet oak stay persistent and delicious on the palate. Pair with the best steak in the house and enjoy. (Tasted: November 16, 2017, San Francisco, CA)
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
There's also a new 2014 Don Nicanor Barrel Select Malbec, a blend of selected barrels containing wine exclusively from the Valle de Uco, looking for less extraction, more spice, a lighter body and presented in a Burgundy bottle, something that had never been done at Nieto Senetiner before. What I tasted was really impressive, a fresh wine with a note of aniseed and fennel, very fine tannins and a soft, velvety texture, keeping the tension. Another surprise from the new Nieto Senetiner.
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.