Winemaker Notes
Red violet with good intensity. Complex nose with Malbec – a bouquet of plums, cherries and jam expressing both spicy and vanilla notes, blending wonderfully with blueberry and violet aromas of the Cabernet Franc. In the mouth, Cabernet Franc adds dark fruit and spice to the velvet tannins and rich Malbec flavor, making a perfect combination that results in a complex, elegant wine of great concentration.
Blend: 70% Malbec, 30% Cabernet Franc
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This shows aromas of bark, dark fruit and a smoky undertone. The palate is full-bodied, juicy and succulent, with fine-grained tannins, yet marked by characteristic austerity. Flavors of violets and bright blue fruit add lift. A blend of 70% malbec and 30% cabernet franc.
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Vinous
The 2024 Mountain Blend Reserva (Malbec/Cabernet Sauvignon) is intriguing. It delivers plummy fruit and delicate herbal notes of notable purity. Dry and taut, with fine tannins and a friendly finish, this is a much more complex expression of Uco Valley terroir than most wines at this price.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
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.