Mendoza, Cuyo
Michel Rolland
Clos de los Siete Malbec Blend 2017
This is done by Michel Rolland. Perhaps, the most famous international consult out there.
On the nose; ripe, floral; blackberries, dark cherries, blueberries, black raspberries with some strawberries. Dark rich soil, black licorice, dusty top soil, and dark red florals & violets.
On the palate; the body is medium and the tannins dusty, tarry & sticky. The fruits are juicy; blackberries, dark cherries, blueberries, black raspberries with some strawberries. Dark rich soil, black licorice, light tarry notes, leather, dusty top soil, and dark red florals & violets. The acidity rains on the palate. The finish is well balanced and fruit driven landing on dry powdery tannins.
Photos of the Andes. It was the closest visit we had in proximity to them. Other vistas around the Properties. — 7 days ago
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
Finca Remota Malbec 2015
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
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
Cuvelier Los Andes
Mendoza Merlot 2015
On the nose; sweet dark cassis, black raspberries, blueberries, black raspberries with creamy raspberries. Dark rich soils, black raspberry cola, black licorice, light baking spices, loamy dry top soil with lavender & violets.
On the palate; the body is medium and the tannins slitting & dry black raspberries, blueberries, black raspberries with creamy raspberries. Dark rich soils, a good amount of dry crushed rocks, black raspberry cola, black licorice, light baking spices, leather, loamy dry top soil with lavender & violets.
Photos of, vistas around the property and and their stainless steel tanks. — 7 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
Finca Sophenia
Anti Synthesis Field Blend of Malbec & Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
On the nose, shy dark fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, blackberries, some dark cherries, a little cherries and strawberries, pepper, coffee grounds, black licorice, soft leather, light baking spices, saddle-wood, light spice, underbrush and lavender & violets.
On the palate, the bottle not quite full. The tannins are a little beefier & sticky than the previous wines. Blackberries, black raspberries, blackberries, some dark cherries, a little cherries and strawberries, pepper, coffee grounds, black licorice, tough leather, lots of wood, light baking spices, light spice, underbrush, dark red florals lavender & violets. The acidity is very good and the ripe, well balanced finish is nice.
Photos of; our tasting bottles with the tasting bar in the background. Sophenia new oak barrel, part of the Andres that remains snow capped all year as seen from their property. — 8 days ago
Finca Sophenia
Synthesis The Blend Red Blend 2014
On the nose, ripe, blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, blue fruits, touch of pyrazines, black raspberry cola, black licorice, saddle-wood, dark rich soils, well done toast, light baking spices, loamy soil with dry crushed rock powder with blue & purple flowers.
On the palate, the body is medium. The tannins are lighter, softer and powdery. Ripe: blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries & blue fruits, Touch of pyrazines, black raspberry cola,black licorice, saddle-wood, dark rich soils, light baking spices, loamy soil with dry crushed rock powder with blue & purple flowers. The acidity is good. the finish is fruity with nice balance.
Photos of, the Andres outside the property. Their halls of stainless tanks & concrete tanks. — 8 days ago
Mendel Wines
Unus Malbec Blend 2015
On the nose, ripe, floral; blackberries, black raspberries, creamy raspberries, dark cherries, blank licorice, rich dark soils, beautiful baking spices, caramel, medium dark but soft spice and dark fresh red & purple florals.
On the palate, the body is full. The tannins are sticky and powdery. Baked fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, creamy raspberries, dark cherries, black licorice, rich dark soils, beautiful baking spices, lite caramel, medium dark but soft spice and dark fresh red & purple florals. Beautiful in the mouth. The acidy is round excellent. The long well balanced, elegant finish is gorgeous.
Photos of, the Mendel-Revancha staff bottling. Grape sorting equipment and conveyer belt to the crusher and the road map sign to the Bodega upon arrival. — 11 days ago
David T
Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator
On the nose, lush, ripe, ruby, blue floral fruits of; blueberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, black plum with some hints of strawberries & cherries. Vanilla,spice, cinnamon, touch of clove, rich, dark, moist soil, black licorice , black raspberry cola, stones, wood notes with dark lavender and violets.
The body is medium with heavy, dark, tarry, sticky tannins. The fruits gorgeous, leaner and very ripe. Notes of vanilla follow. Raspberry cola, blueberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, black plum with some hints of strawberries & cherries. Nice soft spice, cinnamon, touch of clove, rich, dark, moist soil, black licorice , black raspberry cola, leathery, underbrush, dry stones, crushed rocks, wood notes with dark lavender and violets. The acidity is nicely done and the finish is ripe, elegant and well balanced.
Photos of; beautiful Andes from their patio. Restaurant bar. Patio seating on a beautiful day like it was the day we were there. Estate wines around the backside of their property. — 7 days ago