Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Angelica Zapata Chardonnay 2021 – Mendoza, Argentina 🇦🇷

Overview
Crafted from 100% Chardonnay sourced primarily from high-altitude vineyards in Mendoza, this wine showcases Catena Zapata’s philosophy of combining mountain freshness with Burgundian precision. Beautifully balanced and remarkably age-worthy, it demonstrates why Argentina deserves a place among the world’s finest Chardonnay producers.

Aromas & Flavors
Lemon curd, white peach, ripe pear, Meyer lemon, crisp apple, and citrus blossom unfold alongside subtle notes of hazelnut, vanilla, and delicate mineral undertones. Every layer feels focused, energetic, and seamlessly integrated.

Mouthfeel
The defining feature is its remarkable equilibrium. Vibrant acidity meets a creamy, refined texture, creating a striking sense of precision, tension, and length. Rich without excess, fresh without sharpness, finishing with exceptional clarity and persistence.

Food Pairings
Butter-poached lobster, grilled halibut, roasted chicken, creamy mushroom risotto, scallops, or aged Gruyère.

Verdict
A world-class New World Chardonnay that effortlessly balances richness, freshness, and finesse. Complex enough for the cellar yet irresistible in its youth, it rivals many top-tier Chardonnays from far more celebrated regions.

Did You Know?
The Angelica Zapata range is named after Nicolás Catena Zapata’s mother and is sourced from some of the estate’s highest-elevation vineyards, where cool mountain nights preserve acidity and allow the wines to develop remarkable aging potential.

🍷 Personal Pick
Without hesitation, this has become my favorite Chardonnay from the Southern Hemisphere. The balance between acidity, texture, precision, and tension is simply captivating. It’s one of those rare bottles that makes you want to pour another glass before you’ve finished the first. An outstanding Chardonnay that has unquestionably earned a permanent place in my cellar. — 8 days ago

Amanda Drazka

9.0

This Malbec dominant Bordeaux blend from Mendoza, Argentina offers a full body with notes of black pepper, plum, and blackberry. It has smooth, developed tannins with a medium finish. This wine paired beautifully with steak. — 4 months ago

"Odedi"

9.1

Deep ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Strong nose of black currants, plums, oak, dark chocolates, earth, tobacco leaf, herbs, eucalyptus, light vegetables and black pepper.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with black currants, black plums, cooked cherries, spices, chocolates, oak, licorice, light cola, vegetables and peppercorn.

Medium finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 8 year old Malbec based blend from the house of Cheval Blanc is starting to drink very nicely now. Feels like a Right Bank Bordeaux.

Soft, smooth and elegant. Rich and fruit forward. Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel. Complex and interesting.

Needed 90 minutes in the decanter to open up properly, and will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years. Would be nice to revisit it in 5 years.

Wine Advocate 97 points.

Good by itself as a sipping wine or with food.

A blend of 62% Malbec and 38% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged in (50% new) French oak barrels for 15 months.

14% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$110. — 6 months ago

Alessandro Dalle Carbonare

9.7

This is a really serious wine. This year Cheval des Andes has the highest proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon than ever before. And this made it turned out into an incredibly complex and especially deep wine. Wow! Serious and great. — 10 months ago

Brian Hearty

8.9

2018. Last of two bottles gifted to me by my sister-in-law and it paired great with a tomato glazed meatloaf. — 2 years ago

Glen Shikunov

9.5

May be the best Malbec I’ve ever had. Smooth blackberry jam with ripe dark fruit, less bite than typical Malbecs. Would buy again. — 5 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.1

Clos de los Siete by Michel Roland, Malbec Blend 2021, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina 🇦🇷

Overview
A Bordeaux-inspired blend led by 59% Malbec, 15% Merlot, 13% Syrah, 6% Cabernet Franc, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 3% Petit Verdot, crafted under the vision of Michel Rolland. Compared to the 2019 vintage, the higher proportion of Malbec gives the 2021 greater concentration, depth, and a more distinctly Argentine personality while maintaining its polished French-inspired elegance.

Aromas & Flavors
Ripe blackberry, black plum, cassis, violet, dark chocolate, espresso, graphite, cedar, and sweet baking spices unfold in generous layers. The fruit feels darker and more concentrated, revealing additional complexity with air.

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied with a luscious, velvety texture and beautifully integrated tannins. The extra Malbec brings added richness and depth, while vibrant acidity keeps the wine energetic. The finish is notably longer, more textured, and impressively persistent.

Food Pairings
Argentine asado, grilled ribeye, lamb chops, braised beef, mushroom risotto, aged Manchego, or hard Alpine cheeses.

Verdict
An outstanding evolution of Clos de los Siete that leans into a deeper, more expressive profile without sacrificing balance. Richer, more textured, and exceptionally harmonious, the 2021 stands out as one of the strongest recent vintages of this iconic blend.

Did You Know?
Although Clos de los Siete is inspired by Bordeaux, the increasing prominence of Malbec in recent vintages reflects the confidence of Argentina’s Uco Valley terroir, allowing the region’s signature grape to take center stage while the Bordeaux varieties provide structure and finesse.

🍷 Personal Pick
Having enjoyed both vintages, I found the 2021 even more compelling than the already excellent 2019 (also reviewed in Delectable). The additional Malbec adds a deeper core of fruit, greater texture, and a remarkably persistent finish that elevates the wine into an even more complete and satisfying expression. It has officially become my favorite Clos de los Siete vintage to date. — 8 days ago

Angelo Casagrande

8.9

Lot of dark fruit: blackberries, blueberries, and a tinge of spice. Dark, the wine smells like it tastes. Good value. — 4 months ago

Lois Bloom

9.0

Wood Ranch yummy dinner on a very windy night before NY Eve, almost the end of 2025. Thanks to Mitch and Krista for Xmas gift card here. — 6 months ago

Jeremiah Diaz

9.2

Clear, medium ruby in color; on the nose, it's clean with pronounced primary and secondary aromas of red plums, black currants, hibiscus, and red pepper flakes; on the palate, it's dry with high acidity, medium tannins, medium alcohol, medium body, and pronounced primary and secondary flavors of tart cherries, red currants, pencil shavings, and smoked paprika with a long finish. This wine is complex and intense. Overall, I rate this wine as very good. Nellie says it's ok. — 7 months ago

with Nellie

Matthew Williamson

8.9

True old vine depth in both texture and flavour. A nice departure from Tempranillo or garnacha while retaining all the bold characteristics of Spanish old world reds. — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

A 6 region blend, deep Ruby with aromas of dark red fruits, spice and dried herbal and floral notes. On the palate flavors of blueberry and blackberry with licorice and pepper oak. Fine grainy tannins, lively acidity, medium(+) finish ending with fruit, subtle oak and savory spice. Nice! — 5 years ago

Alf Aguirre

9.0

Me encantó súper suave al paladar muy delicado, recomendadisimo — a month ago

Bruce Dunbar

9.0

Ten years post vintage, the 2016 shows little sign of age. Dark, warming, smooth and rich. Dusty tannins and the 15.5% alcohol has mellowed as has the typical peppery bite on the back-end of Zins. All around, still drinking great — a month ago

Michael Burke

10

Tasty - good for steak — 3 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

8.9

Deep Ruby color with aromas of dark red fruits, spice and floral notes. On the palate flavors of black cherry and blackberry with licorice, black pepper and toasty oak. Firm tannins, lively acidity, medium finish ending with fruit, oak and savory spice. — 6 months ago

"Odedi"

9.2

Purple in color with a reddish rim.

Strong nose of black fruits with wood, licorice and chocolate notes.

Full-bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with black currants, black plums, cooked cherries, oak, chocolates, black pepper, herbs, spices, black tea and light vegetables.

Medium finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 10 year old Malbec is still drinking very nicely, but will not last long, so better drink up. Nicely balanced and complex. Spicy and entertaining.

I've had many different vintages of this wine and it is much better with some age.

Good right out of the bottle and easy drinking.

Good by itself or with food.

13% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$20 (recent vintage). — 7 months ago

Ken Venezio

8.9

A bit dusty in the nose but it opens with cherries, blackberries and a touch of dark cocoa. Nice balance between florals and spice. Tannins are silky and it has a full finish. I'd say medium body but very good value. — 10 months ago

Christine Lee

10

Not sure the vintage is correct. The bottle just says Breca Garnacha. We love it!! Very juicy blackberry notes and long finish, not acidic or too much of anything. Is bold, but very drinkable on its own. Running out to buy more! — 5 years ago

Ray Vanderhoff

8.9

Old vine Garnacha from the Calatayud Region of Spain. Aromas and flavors of ripe plum and dark cherries. Hints of leather and sweet spices. Bright and bold, but there is a bit of sharpness on the finish. — 6 years ago