Winemaker Notes
The 2002 Malbec is a striking deep brilliant purple color. The nose is ripe and full, reminiscent of dark cherries, plums, and chocolate with undertones of loam and earth. In the mouth, the wine displays a profound core of ripe, blackberry jam fruit, lengthening into a sophisticated weighty finish coupled with an elegant silkness. This is a rich, extracted Malbec, atypical of most Malbecs from Argentina.
The late Ricardo Santos demonstrated a life-long commitment to the Argentine wine tradition, particularly in regard to the country’s great varietal, Malbec. As the former owner of the Norton Winery, Ricardo renounced a career in architecture to pursue his passion for winemaking with the belief that Argentina could produce wines equal to the best in the world. In 1971, he was the first winemaker from Argentina to export Malbec to the U.S. market. Mr. Santos is survived by his wife Estela and his two sons, Patricio and Pedro, who carry on the tradition of excellence in Ricardo Santos winemaking. One son, Patricio, is the winemaker; the other son, Pedro, is the head of marketing.
Most distinguished and celebrated from Argentina’s Mendoza, Malbec has seen runaway success since the early 2000s. Mendoza’s agreeable, continental climate with hot, dry summers and cold snowy winters allows the perfect conditions for growing outstanding Malbec. This grape is easy to like for its lusty, deep flavors and aromas of blackberry, plum, red cherry, autumn spice and tilled earth. It’s easy to find delicious, fruit-driven, affordable everyday examples and in prices beyond, quite exceptional ones with dense, supple textures that make them capable of aging.