Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This is a dense wine that remains bright and linear. Full-bodied, yet harmonious and long. Very attractive. Intense red yet one that's ever so sophisticated. Drink now.
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Wine Enthusiast
Dense, lush aromas of coffee, blackberry and turned earth give way to notes aged Gouda cheese. The jammy palate is packed with a mix of blackberry, plum and cassis flavors that blend together. A compact, grapy finish shows no hard edges, gaps or breaks. Drink through 2022.
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Wine Spectator
A refined red, with cedar and spice notes accenting the dried berry and currant flavors. Offers beefy hints midpalate, showing a taut, tannic finish, rich with cigar box details. Drink now through 2020.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2012 Tapiz Black Tears Malbec is also from the San Pablo zone of Uco, from a vineyard planted at 1,350 meters altitude. The wine matured in new and used French oak for 24 months. Even if oaky it has enough freshness to keep it balanced and quite classical. This is a big, XL Malbec in a balanced style.
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.