Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Blueberry and blackberry aromas and flavors with some hints of flowers. Full body, layered and rich. A red with structure and depth.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Cropped from a cool, wet and low-yielding year for the variety, the 2016 Reserva Malbec was produced with grapes from their vineyards in Valle de Uco. It fermented in stainless steel vats and matured in French oak barrels for 12 months. It's riper and more concentrated than the Cabernet Sauvignon, but it's still atypical and has moderate alcohol and good acidity. It has soft, fine-grained tannins with a pleasant texture and a dry finish. They produced no less than 1,440,000 bottles of this cuvée. Very impressive quality for the volume.
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.
With a winning combination of cool weather, high elevation and well-draining alluvial soils, it is no surprise that Mendoza’s Uco Valley is one of the most exciting up-and-coming wine regions in Argentina. Healthy, easy-to-manage vines produce low yields of high-quality fruit, which in turn create flavorful, full-bodied wines with generous acidity.
This is the source of some of the best Malbec in Mendoza, which can range from value-priced to ultra-premium. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay also perform well here.