Winemaker Notes
Intense red colour with violet hues. Intense and complex on the nose, combining aromas of raspberry and black cherry from Las Compuertas with plum and violet from Paraje Altamira, and blueberry and fresh herbs from Los Chacayes. A great concentration of tannins leads to a creamy and unctuous mouthfeel, while a balanced acidity and firm tannins contribute to a pleasant and persistent finish.
Serve this intense malbec alongside both grilled and slow-cooked beef dishes with rich wine reductions. You could also try it with stewed lamb dishes and mature or smoked cheese.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Blackberry, tar and basil with some other herbs on the nose. Full-bodied with juicy tannins and a fine-velvet texture. It’s long and polished with a pretty and rather classy finish. From vineyards in Altamira, Los Chacayes and Las Compuertas. Sustainable. Tight at the end. Such finesse. Give it a year or two.
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Wine Enthusiast
Grapes grow at an altitude of 3,280 feet, enjoying diurnal temperature variation. The result is a flavorful wine, with a nose of cassis, blackberries and coffee. It has a smooth texture and concentrated ripe black- and red-fruit flavors balanced by fine-grained tannins and good acidity. Earthy notes of dark chocolate complement the fruity character.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
I don't really see grandness in the 2019 Grand Malbec, but at least the wine has a lot less oak than in past years. It's still toasty and ripe—not my favorite combination—after maturing for 18 months in oak barrels and vats, 40% of them new. The fruit is ripe at 14% alcohol, and the wine has a soft and mellow palate with some creaminess and a dry, serious finish.
Rating: 91+
At the end of the 1950s, the famous French Champagne house, Moët & Chandon, realized there was an enormous potential for growth in South America. They sent their wine analyst, Renaud Poirier, to study the possibility of expansion. Monsieur Poirier finally proved that Luján de Cuyo, a region within the province of Mendoza, was the best place for the birth of fine wines. In 1960, Chandon Argentina was established, the first subsidiary of Moët & Chandon outside France.
To make the Terrazas de los Andes wines, Chandon Argentina took the initiative to restore this building, located in the heart of Perdriel and at the foot of the imposing Cordón del Plata (a section of the Andes Mountain Range).
In the past, Chandon Argentina made only sparkling and generic still wines, however at the beginning of the '90s fueled by a political system more orientated towards an international market, a varietal wines project was born, to which Terrazas has now become the reality. Situated in Perdriel there is an old Spanish style winery that was used by Pedro Domecq to create his brandy. Renaud Poirier asked Domecq if he could use his equipment to make the first experimental vintages, between 1957 and 1959. Thirty years later Terrazas de los Andes was born, a tributary of Chandon Argentina dedicated exclusively to the production of varietal wines.
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.