Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Tar and blackberry aromas and flavors show through on the nose and palate. Full-bodied, focused and rich with lots of fruit and a pretty structure at the finish. Give it two or three years to come around. Better after 2021.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2018 Don Nicanor Malbec is a 50/50 blend of grapes from Luján and the Valle de Uco. It fermented in stainless steel and concrete vats, with 60% of the wine aged in oak barrels for 12 months. It has floral notes, juicy fruit with acidity and balance and very integrated oak, in line with the 2016 with a little more weight. It represents the modern style of Nieto Senetiner, offering purity and drinkability at unbeatable prices. Rating: 90+
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.