Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
James Suckling
Very attractive and ripe dark plums and blackberries on the nose here with a super fresh array of sleek, fresh tannins, bathed in fruit and there’s a long, rich red-plum and cherry core. Smooth and very elevated into the finish. Impressive.
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The varietal 2017 Malbec was cropped from a warm and dry year after some cooler and wetter vintages, a year of low yields after some frost. It mixes grapes from Agrelo and Los Árboles and fermented in a combination of stainless steel, concrete and oak with selected yeasts. It matured in French barriques, 20% of them new, for nine to 12 months, depending on the lot. 2017 was a warmer year compared with 2018 and 2019, and this wine shows a little riper but without excess. In a warmer year, they might use a little more fruit from the Valle de Uco to compensate the natural conditions of the vintage. It has an expressive nose, open and complex. This is selected from lower-yielding plots, and they are very careful with the oak so it doesn't mark the wines too much. It keeps the elegant and traditional house 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.