Winemaker Notes
Intense and dark violet color with a surprising sheen. Aromas of red fruits, strawberries and some cherries. Subtle notes of flowers like violets and lilacs. Also some aromas of vanilla and delicate toasted aromas brought by its passage through oak. In the mouth it is a complex wine with personality, good structure and an extremely pleasant ending.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This has an intense, polished nose of ripe black cherries, blueberries, lavender, hot stones and cocoa. It’s full-bodied with firm, chalky tannins. Concentrated and creamy with a solid core of cool blue and black fruit. Well integrated wood. Drink from 2022.
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.