Winemaker Notes
Blend: 84% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc, 4 % Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The super-classical 2014 Las Notas de Jean Claude is a superb red blend of 84% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot from their vineyard in San Pablo in the Uco Valley at some 1,350 meters in altitude. This is taken from a specific plot planted 19 years ago and selected by consultant Jean-Claude Berrouet of Petrus fame. This wine is all about elegance, balance and finesse and goes well beyond the varieties, which play a secondary role. The palate reveals very fine tannins and superb acidity; it's ripe and full of flavors and nuance. Beautiful.
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James Suckling
Juicy and very polished with totally resolved tannins that are integrated into the wine, giving it a savory and delicious mouth feel. Tangy and fresh, too. Merlot with a touch of cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon and petit verdot. Drink and enjoy.
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.