Achával-Ferrer
Quimera Mendoza Malbec Blend
Mendoza, Cuyo, Argentina
STORAGE is everything.
Correct storage does not magically enlighten all wines, but it enables you to wait until such time that wines crafted with proper parts and proper technique will offer you a higher level of enjoyment.
Our final bottle of this 2003 vintage, purchased in May 2006 for $31 as Achával-Ferrer was beginning their ascension to greatness, with pricing to match.
Decanted 4H.
Similar notes to prior experiences:
Nose has ripe plum, graphite, dried black cherry, dried tart cherry, old leather, dried black currant, slight eucalyptus, dark chocolate, stewed raisin, mashed blackberry, faint chalkboard dust and dried rose.
Palate has sweet prune, semi-sweet chocolate, dried black cherry, sweet-roasted red pepper, dried boysenberry, briar and dry earth. Fine tannins, rich and round the on the finish.
Stellar show on our finale of the vintage...Looking forward to the 2004's. I previously stated this bottle could likely make a 20th birthday in proper storage, looks like it can only make a ~19th birthday in this cellar.
40% Malbec/ 28% Cabernet Sauvignon/ 27% Merlot / 5% Cabernet Franc (4,976 cases)
STORAGE is everything.
Correct storage does not magically enlighten all wines, but it enables you to wait until such time that wines crafted with proper parts and proper technique will offer you a higher level of enjoyment.
Our final bottle of this 2003 vintage, purchased in May 2006 for $31 as Achával-Ferrer was beginning their ascension to greatness, with pricing to match.
Decanted 4H.
Similar notes to prior experiences:
Nose has ripe plum, graphite, dried black cherry, dried tart cherry, old leather, dried black currant, slight eucalyptus, dark chocolate, stewed raisin, mashed blackberry, faint chalkboard dust and dried rose.
Palate has sweet prune, semi-sweet chocolate, dried black cherry, sweet-roasted red pepper, dried boysenberry, briar and dry earth. Fine tannins, rich and round the on the finish.
Stellar show on our finale of the vintage...Looking forward to the 2004's. I previously stated this bottle could likely make a 20th birthday in proper storage, looks like it can only make a ~19th birthday in this cellar.
40% Malbec/ 28% Cabernet Sauvignon/ 27% Merlot / 5% Cabernet Franc (4,976 cases)
Tried again. A blend of 50% Malbec, 22% Merlot, 22% Cab Sauv & 6% Cab Franc, aged in French oak 50/50 new & 1 year old, combining fruit from Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley. Deep Ruby with aromas of dark fruit, earthy and floral spice. On the palate flavors of blackberry and tart cherry flavors, with vanilla, licorice, citrus and herb spice. Fine tannins, well balanced long finish ending with tart fruit and a sweet earthy mineral character. Nice! A Fav!
Tried again. A blend of 50% Malbec, 22% Merlot, 22% Cab Sauv & 6% Cab Franc, aged in French oak 50/50 new & 1 year old, combining fruit from Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley. Deep Ruby with aromas of dark fruit, earthy and floral spice. On the palate flavors of blackberry and tart cherry flavors, with vanilla, licorice, citrus and herb spice. Fine tannins, well balanced long finish ending with tart fruit and a sweet earthy mineral character. Nice! A Fav!
Dec 27th, 2021A blend of 50% Malbec, 22% Merlot, 22% Cab Sauv & 6% Cab Franc, aged in French oak 50/50 new & 1 year old, combining fruit from Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley. Deep Ruby with aromas of dark fruit, earthy and floral spice. On the palate flavors of blackberry and tart cherry flavors, with vanilla, licorice, citrus and herb spice. Fine tannins, well balanced long finish ending with tart fruit and a sweet earthy mineral character. Nice! A Fav!
A blend of 50% Malbec, 22% Merlot, 22% Cab Sauv & 6% Cab Franc, aged in French oak 50/50 new & 1 year old, combining fruit from Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley. Deep Ruby with aromas of dark fruit, earthy and floral spice. On the palate flavors of blackberry and tart cherry flavors, with vanilla, licorice, citrus and herb spice. Fine tannins, well balanced long finish ending with tart fruit and a sweet earthy mineral character. Nice! A Fav!
Sep 25th, 2021A blend of 50% Malbec, 22% Merlot, 22% Cab Sauv & 6% Cab Franc, aged in French oak 50/50 new & 1 year old, combining fruit from Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley. Deep Ruby with aromas of dark fruit, earthy and floral spice. On the palate flavors of blackberry and tart cherry flavors, with vanilla, licorice, citrus and herb spice. Fine tannins, well balanced long finish ending with tart fruit and a sweet earthy mineral character. Nice! Tasted twice!
A blend of 50% Malbec, 22% Merlot, 22% Cab Sauv & 6% Cab Franc, aged in French oak 50/50 new & 1 year old, combining fruit from Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley. Deep Ruby with aromas of dark fruit, earthy and floral spice. On the palate flavors of blackberry and tart cherry flavors, with vanilla, licorice, citrus and herb spice. Fine tannins, well balanced long finish ending with tart fruit and a sweet earthy mineral character. Nice! Tasted twice!
Sep 12th, 2021Such a delicious wine! Prior notes apply, this bottle still has years, if not a decade, in front. Wowie, wow! More chocolate and leather than our last bottle, abundant dark fruits, minor acidity, no tannins. Again, lots of sediment. Decanted 3H.
Paired to Allen Brothers Mangalitsa Pork, Secreto cut. The ultimate pork, very buttery and tasty, nothing compares. Grilled to perfection in a mere 5M.
Such a delicious wine! Prior notes apply, this bottle still has years, if not a decade, in front. Wowie, wow! More chocolate and leather than our last bottle, abundant dark fruits, minor acidity, no tannins. Again, lots of sediment. Decanted 3H.
Paired to Allen Brothers Mangalitsa Pork, Secreto cut. The ultimate pork, very buttery and tasty, nothing compares. Grilled to perfection in a mere 5M.
A blend of 50% Malbec, 22% Merlot, 22% Cab Sauv & 6% Cab Franc, aged in French oak 50/50 new & 1 year old, combining fruit from Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley. Deep Ruby with aromas of dark fruit, earthy and floral spice. On the palate flavors of blackberry and tart cherry flavors, with vanilla, licorice, citrus and herb spice. Fine tannins, well balanced long finish ending with tart fruit and a sweet earthy mineral character. Nice! Tasted twice!
A blend of 50% Malbec, 22% Merlot, 22% Cab Sauv & 6% Cab Franc, aged in French oak 50/50 new & 1 year old, combining fruit from Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley. Deep Ruby with aromas of dark fruit, earthy and floral spice. On the palate flavors of blackberry and tart cherry flavors, with vanilla, licorice, citrus and herb spice. Fine tannins, well balanced long finish ending with tart fruit and a sweet earthy mineral character. Nice! Tasted twice!
May 22nd, 2021A blend of 50% Malbec, 22% Merlot, 22% Cab Sauv & 6% Cab Franc, aged in French oak 50/50 new & 1 year old, combining fruit from Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley. Deep Ruby with aromas of dark fruit, earthy and floral spice. On the palate flavors of blackberry and tart cherry flavors, with licorice, citrus and herb spice. Fine tannins, well balanced long finish ending with tart fruit and an earthy mineral character. Nice!
A blend of 50% Malbec, 22% Merlot, 22% Cab Sauv & 6% Cab Franc, aged in French oak 50/50 new & 1 year old, combining fruit from Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley. Deep Ruby with aromas of dark fruit, earthy and floral spice. On the palate flavors of blackberry and tart cherry flavors, with licorice, citrus and herb spice. Fine tannins, well balanced long finish ending with tart fruit and an earthy mineral character. Nice!
Apr 25th, 2021A blend of 50% Malbec, 28% Cab Franc, 14% Merlot & 8% Cab Sauv. Aged in 100% new French, combining fruit from Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley. Aromas of dark fruit and floral scents with notes of earthy spice. On the palate flavors of tart raspberry and cherry flavors, with hints of spice, fine tannins, well balanced long finish ending with an earthy mineral character. Nice!
A blend of 50% Malbec, 28% Cab Franc, 14% Merlot & 8% Cab Sauv. Aged in 100% new French, combining fruit from Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley. Aromas of dark fruit and floral scents with notes of earthy spice. On the palate flavors of tart raspberry and cherry flavors, with hints of spice, fine tannins, well balanced long finish ending with an earthy mineral character. Nice!
Dec 6th, 2020We recently pulled some cases out of storage, which haven't seen the light of day for nearly 15 years, so I'll have some fun posts in the next several months.
Nose has dried black cherry, dried tart cherry, dried black currant, slight eucalyptus, dark chocolate, stewed raisin, mashed blackberry, faint chalkboard dust and dried rose.
Palate has sweet prune, semi-dried black cherry, sweet-roasted red pepper, dried boysenberry, briar and dry earth. Honestly, somewhat reminiscent of an Amarone-style. Medium long finish is satisfying.
Decanted ~60 minutes. In an aged, but happy spot today, certainly ready to drink, but could likely make a 20th birthday in proper storage.
Unfined & Unfiltered, this bottle threw the most amount of sediment I can recall of any bottle we've ever opened, even in comparison to older Port or Zinfandel.
40% Malbec / 28% Cabernet Sauvignon / 27% Merlot / 5% Cabernet Franc (4,976 cases)
We recently pulled some cases out of storage, which haven't seen the light of day for nearly 15 years, so I'll have some fun posts in the next several months.
Nose has dried black cherry, dried tart cherry, dried black currant, slight eucalyptus, dark chocolate, stewed raisin, mashed blackberry, faint chalkboard dust and dried rose.
Palate has sweet prune, semi-dried black cherry, sweet-roasted red pepper, dried boysenberry, briar and dry earth. Honestly, somewhat reminiscent of an Amarone-style. Medium long finish is satisfying.
Decanted ~60 minutes. In an aged, but happy spot today, certainly ready to drink, but could likely make a 20th birthday in proper storage.
Unfined & Unfiltered, this bottle threw the most amount of sediment I can recall of any bottle we've ever opened, even in comparison to older Port or Zinfandel.
40% Malbec / 28% Cabernet Sauvignon / 27% Merlot / 5% Cabernet Franc (4,976 cases)
On the nose; sweet perfumed cassis, black raspberries, black plum, blue fruit mix, blackberries, black raspberries cola, fruit liqueur notes, fruit candy, dark chocolate and violets.
On the palate; the body is medium full. The tannins are firm but rounded and show some tarry quality. The fruits are ripe; blackberries, blue fruit mix, dark cherries, black raspberries, cherries, fruit liqueur quality, black licorice, dark chocolate, mocha, touch of caramel, dark rich soils, loamy clay and dry top soil, fresh red flowers and violets. The acidity is fresh and excellent. The finish is fresh & well balanced. Easy to drink this one young. Now to 2024.
Photos of; the cellar hands aerating and pumping the wine over the cap from concrete tanks. Alcohol evaporators ( @Paul Treadway Huntington Beacher Bevan & SQN could use a bunch of these). Rows of vines that show the rows of soil dug out for old fashion flood irrigation.
On the nose; sweet perfumed cassis, black raspberries, black plum, blue fruit mix, blackberries, black raspberries cola, fruit liqueur notes, fruit candy, dark chocolate and violets.
On the palate; the body is medium full. The tannins are firm but rounded and show some tarry quality. The fruits are ripe; blackberries, blue fruit mix, dark cherries, black raspberries, cherries, fruit liqueur quality, black licorice, dark chocolate, mocha, touch of caramel, dark rich soils, loamy clay and dry top soil, fresh red flowers and violets. The acidity is fresh and excellent. The finish is fresh & well balanced. Easy to drink this one young. Now to 2024.
Photos of; the cellar hands aerating and pumping the wine over the cap from concrete tanks. Alcohol evaporators ( @Paul Treadway Huntington Beacher Bevan & SQN could use a bunch of these). Rows of vines that show the rows of soil dug out for old fashion flood irrigation.