Winemaker Notes
Intense mineral and berry aromas shows class and touches of mint and wood and flavors of plum and raspberry.
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2021 Malbec - Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva is 50% Malbec, 46% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Merlot from Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley and was 50% aged for six months in used French and American 225/500-liter barrels and 50% in stainless steel and concrete vats. Garnet red with a purple sheen. The enticing nose delivers notes of plum, ash and green bell pepper. The 2021 is dry with finely-grained tannins. The taut, plush mouthfeel produces a bold, terse palate with a pyrazine-inflected finish.
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James Suckling
Polished nose of sandalwood, peppercorns, raspberries, blackberries and cloves. Medium- to full-bodied with softened tannins and bitter spice notes to close. 50% malbec and 50% cabernet sauvignon.
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Wine Enthusiast
This blend was made with equal parts of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon and then aged in oak barrels. The resulting wine is fruit-forward, with soft tannins and an aromatic nose of berries. Ripe notes of strawberry and dark chocolate add layers to the flavorful palate and extend into a fruity finish.
In the shadow of the Andes Mountains, Mendoza’s wine regions and high-altitude vineyards are pushed to develop bold, unique flavors in extreme conditions found nowhere else on earth. High altitude means cool temperatures and clear air, and clear air means more sunlight for building flavor in the grapes, helping to make Mendoza the source of Argentina’s well-earned reputation for top quality, unique wines and viticulture. All of the grapes for Sur de los Andes are double sorted. They only use natural yeasts during the 30-day fermentation 30 days after 5 days of cold maceration.
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.
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.