Malbec
Mendel Wines
Finca Remota Malbec 2015
Viña Cobos
Malbec Chanares Vineyard 2015
This is John Hobbs of Napa fame Mendoza Viña. He travels here 4-5 times a year to monitor, consult and he talks with their talented Winemaker Andres Vignoni twice a week. But, Andres does the day to day work.
On the nose, deep, dark currants. Ripe, ruby, blackberries, black raspberries. Deep dark cherries, creamy raspberries and cherries & strawberries on the glass edge. Vanilla, cinnamon, dark chocolate, beautiful loamy soils & clay with dark, fresh florals, lavender and violets.
On the palate, the body is round full & beautiful. The tannins are so soft and beautiful you hardly notice them. Dark melted chocolate bar. Ripe, bright, ruby, blackberries, black raspberries. Deep dark cherries, creamy raspberries and cherries & strawberries on the glass edge. Vanilla, cinnamon, beautiful spice that is soft dark and intensities perfectly, dark chocolate, beautiful loamy soils & clay with dark, fresh florals, lavender and violets. The fruits are gorgeous. The structure, length, balance, acidity are perfect. Some of the best I’ve had from any producer.
Photos of; Estate vines from the entrance of their Viña. Blooming Foxtails around the Viña. Beautiful and clean barrel room. Another shot from their tasting room. — 11 days ago
Mendel Wines
Mendoza Malbec 2015
On the nose, beautifully, ripe and floral fruits of; blackberries, blueberries black raspberries, sweet tarry notes, black licorice, loamy soils, dry clay, dark rich warm soils, soft baking spices and very fresh florals.
On the palate, the body is full. The tannins soft and dusty. It was really nice from when it first splash the palate. Nice warm medium spice. The fruits are lightly ruby, ripe and fresh. Blackberries, blueberries, black raspberries, black plum. Dark chocolate, mocha, caramel, great baking spices, loamy clay, stones, clay, crushed rocks, beautiful round acidity and a rich, round, elegant and well balanced finish.
Photos of; their Estate Malbec vines, signage on the year the Estate vineyard was planted and Malbec grapes just put in a open top fermenter. — 11 days ago
Finca Sophenia
Estate Malbec
This is their Estate Malbec. I’ve ask Delectable to add it.
On the nose; ripe, bright fruit that has a slight sour note. Blackberries, black raspberries, blueberries with cherries & strawberries on the edge of the glass. Touch of pyrazines, black licorice, pepper, dark used coffee grounds, dark moist soil with crushed rocks, leather, woody presence with fresh dark flowers, dark lavender and some violets.
On the palate, the body is medium to full. Tannins are silty and sticky. The fruits are ripe and bright. Blackberries, black raspberries, blueberries with cherries & strawberries. Touch of pyrazines, black licorice, black raspberries cola, pepper, dark used coffee grounds, dark moist soil with crushed rocks, chewy leather, shows a fair amount of wood, fresh dark flowers, dark lavender and some violets. The acidity good and a decent finish.
Photos of, the Andes from their property. They have smog issues just like LA and Silicon Valley. The other half of their library cellar and the size of all their concrete tanks.
— 8 days ago
Tikal
Amorio Mendoza Malbec 2014
I did not take notes as these wines were served over a casual lunch with the Tikal staff.
Ernesto Catena who is the eldest son of Nicolás Catena. Nicolás is of course family involved Catena Zapata. Ernesto is a 4th generation Winemaker and operates Tikal completely with biodynamic practices.
Their wines are quite good and will get better with 3-5 years plus in bottle. They are also very well priced on the international stage. Very good wines at a great QPR.
Photos of, their Bodega a hour south of Mendoza with the snow capped Andes in the background. Another small production wine they make at their offices called Lorange. The entire production stays in Argentina and our setting for our fabulous lunch. — 7 days ago
Viña Cobos
Cobos Marchiori Estate Malbec 2015
This is the Cobos Marchiori Estate Malbec. I asked Delectable to add it.
On the nose; dark currants, black licorice, blueberries, blackberries, black raspberries, creamy raspberries and strawberries. Beautiful semi-sweet dark soils, light vanilla, cinnamon clove, caramel, soft dark spice, loamy moist clay and top soil and amazing dark florals, lavender and violets.
On the palate, the body is medium full. The tannins soft, velvety with a little punch. The fruits leaner and brighter than the Bramare. Blueberries, blackberries, black raspberries, creamy raspberries and strawberries. Beautiful semi-sweet dark soils, light vanilla, cinnamon clove, caramel, soft dark spice, loamy moist clay and top soil and amazing dark florals, lavender and violet. The natural acidity is amazing. The finish is so fresh, ripe, beautifully elegant, well balanced.
Photos of, more Estate vines, wine aerator used during pump overs and chemistry set, Winemaker Andres Vignoni and a mix of young and older Estate vines on the backside of the Viña. — 11 days ago
Zaha
Toko Vineyard Malbec 2015
I’m going to have Delectable check on this wine. I show it as Zaha Toko Vineyard Paraje Altamira.
I didn’t take notes but, but remember lush dark fruits with fairly strong but not overdone edgy minerals.
Photos of Co-owner Jeff Mausbach hosting our tasting and a couple shots of their cellar. — 7 days ago
Bodegas Monteviejo
Petite Fleur Valle de Uco Malbec 2014
On the nose; lush, ripe, ruby cassis of; blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, smoked meat, black licorice, dark rich semi-soil, soft baking spices, warm dry top soil with dark fresh red florals.
On the palate; the body is medium with dry, gritty, tarry tannins. Blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, smoked meat, black licorice, dark rich semi-soil, soft baking spices, warm dry top soil, crushed dry stocks, dry stones, heavy dark penetrating minerals, wood notes, leather. with dark fresh red florals. The acidity is nice and the finish good and nicely balanced.
Photos of, a different patio view, the lounge area at their restaurant, two wine lovers having a pleasant time and their Roman style stairs. — 7 days ago
Viña Cobos
Bramare Chañares Estate Malbec 2015
This is their Chañares Estate Malbec. I’ve asked Delectable to add it.
Cobos/Bramare is owned by Paul Hobbs of Napa fame. He consults on the winemaking and travels to Cobos 4-5 times a year. It is Winemaker Andres Vignoni that does the heavy lifting. He is a very young, bright, talented Winemaker. I really enjoyed talking with him while tasting through their wines.
On the nose, ripe, ruby fruits with just a hint of funk. The fruits are more shy on this wine than the others. Blackberries, blueberries, black raspberries and creamy raspberries, rich, semi-sweet dark soils, black licorice saddle-wood, very soft, beautiful, baking spices, soft elegant spice, and beautiful dark lavender & violets.
On the palate, the body just meets the full definition. The tannins powdery and just a touch sticky. Love the soft darker spice that lift slowly intensity. The wine is the definition of elegance. Ruby, ripe beautiful fruits of: blackberries, blueberries, black raspberries, dark cherries and creamy raspberries, rich, semi-sweet dark soils, black licorice saddle-wood, very soft, beautiful, baking spices, light beautifully soft minerals and beautiful dark lavender & violets. The acidity, fruit and finish are amongst the best I’ve had.
Photos of their Estate vines and various shots of their tasting room.
— 11 days ago
Cuvelier Los Andes
Valle de Uco Malbec 2013
On the nose; the fruits are, ruby, ripe, blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, blue fruits, dark chocolate, caramel, mocha, baking spices, black licorice, dark soils and fresh red and violets.
On the palate; the body is full with dry thick, sticky tannins. ruby, ripe, blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, blue fruits, dark chocolate, caramel, mocha, baking spices, chewy , underbrush, dry stones, leather black licorice, dark soils and fresh red and violets.
Photos of the vistas around the properties. — 7 days ago
David T
Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator
On the nose, ruby, ripe and almost liqueur fruits; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, black plum, dark chocolate; great baking spices, loamy clay, spice, dark moist soils, black licorice and fresh dark floral with violets.
On the palate, the body is full. The tannins and dusty and just a touch sticky. Beautiful but needs to age. ruby, ripe fruits; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, black plum, dark chocolate is crazy good; great baking spices, loamy clay, spice, dark moist soils, black licorice and fresh dark floral with violets.
Photos of, another side of their Estate vines, very old gnarly vine and olives trees waiting to be picked as soon as their done with processing the 18 vintage.
Mendel makes some very nice quality wines at an excellent price point.
The Finca Remota Vineyard is located in Altamira, Valle de Uco at 1,040 meter of elevation. The vineyard has a sandy- loam and stony soil, very loose of alluvial origin. The climate is cold in winter with occasional snowfall, and temperate in summer with cold nights, which provides the region with a great thermal amplitude daily. The average annual rainfall is just under 6 inches. Our “Semillon” and “Malbec Finca Remota” are produced from grapes grown in the oldest and smallest part of this vineyard planted in 1947. It has superficial irrigation and a traditional management of the crop. It is conducted in low French trolley system and the yield is lower than 4 tons. per hectares. The rest of the vineyard receives a modern management: the vines are conducted in medium height French trolley system and it has drip irrigation. In this vineyard there are 8 hectares of Malbec, 3 hectares of Cabernet Sauvignon, 2 hectares of Semillon, 2 hectares of Cabernet Franc and 2 hectares of Petit Verdot. — 11 days ago