Winemaker Notes
Intense wine with well-defined profile, deep red hue with remarkable shades of purple and blue. The nose has intense aromas of plum and cassis with subtle vanilla notes. The mouth is elegant, fresh, delicate and has medium structure.
Great with grilled or roast red meat, game meat, semi-cured cheese and stuffed pasta or dry pasta with spicy sauces.
Professional Ratings
-
James Suckling
This takes your breath away, and it's moderately priced! Great blueberry and violet character on the nose. The palate is concentrated and structured with a stunning freshness. A very long, mineral finish. Drink or hold.
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2016 Don Nicanor Barrel Select Malbec is a barrel selection from the Don Nicanor Malbec and is 100% from the Valle de Uco (mostly from Los Árboles). Eighty percent of the wine aged in used French barriques for 12 months. It shows good intensity, fruit, freshness and little oak (despite its name), as the barrels are old. It's a good example of the new Nieto Senetiner style.
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.