Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine & Spirits
Despite the warmth of 2012 in Mendoza, this is a vibrant, refreshing red. A blend of cabernet sauvignon and malbec with merlot, syrah and cabernet franc, it’s grown at one of the highest points in the Uco Valley, the relatively cool temperatures allowing for a fresh dimension. Cabernet sauvignon’s sweet cassis fruit and minty notes dominate while malbec shows its violet and cherry notes with a flamboyant energy. It deserves a decade in the cellar to reveal its complexities.
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Wine Enthusiast
Licorice, raisin and ripe, loamy black-fruit aromas open this blend that's heavy on Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. Slightly jammy and flat in feel, this tastes ripe and soft, with lightly herbal blue-fruit flavors. A smooth, jammy finish indicates that this is ready to drink.
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.