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All tasting notes
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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 89.7 pts. and median of 90 pts. in 99 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by Mckalm on 4/16/2022 & rated 90 points: Mörkröd, fruktig, vanilj, god, för kraftig för lammstek, (948 views) | | | Tasted by hkm520240 on 2/13/2021 & rated 89 points: Intense dark brooding red, aromas of blueberry, dark plum along with earthy, spicy and peppery notes.
Rich and supple entry, it has medium bodied and showed some development on palate.
Dry and chewy tannins with spicy finish. It is about time to drink up. (1404 views) | | | Tasted by Alaskawino on 10/10/2020 & rated 92 points: Classic Malbec with dusty cherry and blueberry. Good uplift from a Gabriel glass. Opened 3 hours prior. Try a 1 hour decanting next time. (1616 views) | | | Tasted by Dancing with bottles on 6/21/2020 & rated 92 points: From Magnum.
Still very young, quite alcoholic in the beginning, needs 1-2 h of aeration to show the fruit, vanilla and wood notes are now well integrated. Fullbodied and long.
Very good QPR. Could last in a magnum bottle at least till 2028. (1803 views) | | | Tasted by sbern on 8/26/2018 & rated 91 points: Delicious, dark fruits, smooth tannins. Still drinking beautifully at this stage. (2698 views) | | | Tasted by vinodolphin on 12/22/2017 & rated 90 points: Last bottle and a heck of a buy! (2860 views) | | | Tasted by vinodolphin on 12/12/2017 & rated 90 points: A very nice everyday wine under $20. Hard to beat. (2651 views) | | | Tasted by vinodolphin on 3/5/2017 & rated 90 points: Still drinking well. (4161 views) | | | Tasted by KSWinegeek on 1/3/2017 & rated 88 points: Dark in color. Fruit forward with blackberry and chocolate flavors. Smooth and easy drinking. (4420 views) | | | Tasted by Barry Raterink on 12/20/2016 flawed bottle: Corked. (3889 views) | | | Tasted by vinodolphin on 11/24/2016 & rated 90 points: Smooth, goes with everything. (3165 views) | | | Tasted by Bk71 on 11/9/2016 & rated 90 points: Pop & pour. A bit high in alcohol. Lovely wine, Ruby red color, long Legs. Tastes of Blueberries, Mocha & a nice soft finish. It will get better in over time. Would go great with BBQ or Crispy Duck. (3377 views) | | | Tasted by owr on 8/9/2016 & rated 89 points: it's everything the doctor ordered in a Malbec and more: coffee, blackberry, cassis and a lovely bit of smokiness. (2514 views) | | | Tasted by vinodolphin on 7/11/2016 & rated 90 points: Another nice showing. Great QPR. (2298 views) | | | Tasted by Barry Raterink on 7/1/2016 & rated 90 points: Lush with dark fruit, good acidity, is there a better value Malbec than this ? Hard to imagine there is... (2225 views) | | | Tasted by vinodolphin on 5/25/2016 & rated 90 points: Enjoyed over two days. Smooth, went well with BBQ Pork. (2436 views) | | | Tasted by Dancing with bottles on 5/13/2016 & rated 89 points: Lush but a bit simple on the first day. To much cheap vanilla.
Much better better on the second day: Cocao powder and dark fruits, balanced, good structure and length. Very good QPR (2396 views) | | | Tasted by VinoHobo on 5/11/2016 & rated 91 points: Deep dark and moody. Lots of tannin, licorice, dark berry fruits. Plenty of juicy fruit on the finish. Incredible length (1934 views) | | | Tasted by CalimerosDad on 3/27/2016 & rated 88 points: Ein Wein wie ich ihn mag. Fruchtbetont mit ordentlich Körper. Perfekt zum Grillen und dunklem Fleisch. (1619 views) | | | Tasted by Barry Raterink on 3/27/2016 & rated 90 points: Continue to really like this wine - fruity with a nice structure. Excellent value. (2194 views) | | | Tasted by Jobu on 3/17/2016 & rated 89 points: Big, dark, tannic Malbec. Dark fruit, lots of blackberry, really dark chocolate, and spice with a little licorice. Needed a little time to come together. Perfect pairing with red meat. (1998 views) | | | Tasted by ElSol on 3/10/2016 & rated 88 points: Very conventional (and good) Malbec. Dark fruits on the nose & palette, opaque & tooth staining, medium acid and medium finish. Its a good Malbec with good QPR. I usually refer to Malbec as my "reliable" wine - it rarely knocks my socks off but its usually good enough. I think that fits here. (2024 views) | | | Tasted by mschede on 2/4/2016 & rated 88 points: Repeteco.. Desta vez bebi em casa. Atento, com um senso crítico mais severo e uma calibragem etílica nula, gostei um pouco menos que da festiva primeira vez! Continuo achando um bom Malbec, mas agora ficou claro que ainda precisa de um pouco mais de guarda! O álcool estava um pouco aparente, o nariz um pouco fechado e primário. O paladar foi o seu melhor! Apesar do álcool aparecer discretamente. Acho que vale esperar mais uns 2 anos. Mas, se abrir, faça uma boa decantação, e guarde parte p ver dia seguinte.
Obs: Dia seguinte melhorou mesmo! Álcool ficou bem equilibrado ao conjunto. (2703 views) | | | Tasted by gbanks on 1/25/2016: Big. Lotsa tannin. Turns your teeth black. Don't even think about drinking this without a bloody piece of red meat. Would rather drink it a few years from now, but this is no doubt an honest and bold Argentine malbec and delivers very well at its price point.
As an aside: this bottle has a shiny "94 points - James Suckling" label on the neck. Suckling proves once again that his ratings shouldn't be taken seriously. (2616 views) | | | Tasted by mschede on 1/6/2016 & rated 90 points: Um ótimo Malbec! Me surpreendeu! Tem 14,5% de álcool, cor rubi profunda, encorpado, mas se destacou por se revelar mais elegante do que eu esperava, sendo muito equilibrado, com boa complexidade, tendo fruta e madeira em perfeita harmonia, álcool bem inserido, taninos muito finos e acidez acima da média dos "hermanos", o que me agradou muito! Já está ótimo aos 3-4 anos, mas pode ser guardado por 10+.. (2585 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Richard Hemming, MW
JancisRobinson.com (9/15/2015)
(Kaiken, Ultra Malbec Mendoza Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Sara d'Amato
WineAlign (9/5/2015)
(Kaiken Ultra Malbec, Mendoza red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Richard Hemming, MW
JancisRobinson.com (2/16/2015)
(Kaiken, Ultra Malbec Mendoza Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, Argentina: New Releases (Feb 2015) (1/1/2015)
(Kaiken Ultra Malbec Mendoza) Subscribe to see review text. | By Michael Godel
WineAlign (9/20/2014)
(Kaiken Ultra Malbec, Mendoza red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Steve Thurlow
WineAlign (9/8/2014)
(Kaiken Ultra Malbec, Mendoza red) Subscribe to see review text. | By David Lawrason
WineAlign (8/24/2014)
(Kaiken Ultra Malbec, Mendoza red) Subscribe to see review text. |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of JancisRobinson.com and WineAlign and Vinous. (manage subscription channels) |
| Kaiken Producer websiteMalbec Varietal character (Appellation America)
One of the traditional “Bordeaux varietals”, Malbec has characteristics that fall somewhere between Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. A midseason ripener, it can bring very deep color, ample tannin, and a particular plum-like flavor component to add complexity to claret blends. Malbec is a finicky vine whose fruit is prone to rot and mildew in the cool, damp coastal climate of Bordeaux. But ask a Bordelais grower why there’s no Malbec around, and you’ll more likely get a dismissive shrug and sniff than a viticultural analysis. It is known in much of France as Côt, and, in Cahors, also as Auxerrois. There are in fact hundreds of local synonyms, since Malbec at one time was widely planted all over the country. Sensitivity to frost and proclivity to shatter or coulure (a disease that results in premature fruit drop) is the primary reason that Malbec has become a decreasing factor in most of France. Although plantings in the Medoc have decreased by over twothirds since the mid-twentieth century, Malbec is now the dominant red varietal in the Cahors area. The Appellation Controlée regulations for Cahors require a minimum content of 70%. Malbec is also planted in Chile, and there’s relatively little and recent acreage in California and Australia. It is usually blended with other red varietals in these countries. But Malbec truly comes into its own in Argentina, where it is the major red varietal planted. Much of the Malbec vines there were transplanted from Europe prior to the outbreak of phylloxera and most is therefore ungrafted, on its own roots. Sadly, over the years the bug infested Argentina, too, and vineyards are being replanted on resistant rootstock. Happily, the vines thrive in the arid climate of the Mendoza region in the foothills of the Andes. Made in the context of this South American nation’s Spanish and Italian heritage, it produces a delicious wine that has almost nothing in common with Bordeaux except the color. Argentines often spell it “Malbeck” and make wines from it that are slightly similar in flavor to those made in Europe, but with softer, lusher structure, more like New World Merlot. Another difference is that where French examples are usually considered short-lived, Argentine Malbecs seem to age fairly well. Successful Argentine Malbec growers claim that, in order to develop full maturity and distinction, Malbec needs “hang time” even after sugar levels indicate ripeness. Otherwise, immature Malbec can be very “green” tasting, without its characteristic notes of plum and anise. Malbec in Argentina has come to be appreciated for a spicy white pepper characteristic, the aroma of violets, and sweet, jammy fruit. It is a seductive wine that is typically warm and generous in the mouth, with plenty of flesh, and very appealing when young. Almost always producing a ripe and fruity, even plummy wine, Malbec can take oak aging or show well without it; it’s juicy and quaffable when young but can benefit from aging, developing an intriguing complexity with time in the bottle. It can range in price from as little as $7 to more than $75. The true potential of Argentine Malbec, and indeed in the entire spectrum of Argentine wines, is demonstrated by the fact that many of the world’s most renowned winemakers have come to Argentina to make wine. Both the legendary California winemaker Paul Hobbs, and Michel Rolland of Bordeaux, one of the world’s most famous winemakers, have created very high-end Malbecs. It may be the Italian component in the country’s mixed Latin family tree that fosters the fact that Malbec is an exceptional companion with a broad range of food. Its well-balanced fruit-and-acid profile makes it a natural with rare beef (bear in mind that Argentina is cattle country), but it’s just as good with simple fare from burgers to fried chicken. With its natural balance, good pairings include: cajun cuisine, calzones, cannelloni with meat, poultry, vegetable couscous, steak creole, Greek cuisine, deviled eggs, hummus, Indian cuisine, leg of lamb, Mexican cuisine with meat, pâté, spinach soufflé, and hearty pasta. For cheeses, think of harder styles that are either waxed or oiled, such as Parmigiano Reggiano, Ricotta Salata, Romano, Asiago, Pont l’Eveque, Gruyere, Manchego, Cantal, Comte, old Gouda, old Cheddar, Baulderstone, Beaufort, Leicester, aged Chesire, Chevre Noir, Wensleydale, Tilsit, Iberico, Mahon, Roncal, and Mizithra.Argentina Wines of Argentina
Argentina has been making wine since the 1500s, tracing its wine heritage back to Spain, France and, perhaps surprisingly, Italy. Italian immigration is second only to Spanish in Argentine culture, and the flavors of Italy show up strongly in the nation’s wine, food and cultural tradition. Historically, Argentina has kept much of its wine consumption at home, drinking most of the wine it makes. But we are now seeing more very serious Argentine wines north of the border, and Malbec is leading the movement. The wine-making region in Argentina ranges between the 22° and 42° South latitude. It spreads at the foothills of the Andean mountain range along over 2,400 km; from the province of Salta to the province of Río Negro, with a variety of climates and soils that makes each region a unique land. In general terms, the areas dedicated to vine cultivation are dry and arid with a low level of rain and humidity, determining factor as regards grape health. Abundant sunny days and thermal amplitude favor a good maturity and concentration of aroma and color in the grain. Soils are deep, permeable and poor in organic matter, decisive qualities at the time of obtaining good wine. Due to the low rain regime, irrigation is necessary. Water comes from the Andean range thaw, descending in the shape of rivers to become channels or ditches. Undoubtedly, the combination of these factors turns Argentina into a veritable oasis for the highest quality wine-making. Nevertheless, there is still a long way to go. Wine-making in Argentina, at the level that it achieves today, has a young history that goes back to a little more than 10 years ago. Technological progress, investment and some farsighted businessmen enabled a determining transformation. The province of Mendoza is the most traditional area in the viticultural industry, and is diverse enough to be divided into zones, according to their significantly different weather, height and soil characteristics. These include the Northern Zone, which is suitable for fruity whites and young reds, at a height from 600 to 700m; the Eastern Zone, with a height ranging from 600 to 700m, and the most productive zone in the province; the Uco Valley, a zone of colder weather and higher altitudes (between 800 and 1,400m over sea level); San Rafael, with heights ranging from 450 to 800m; and the High Zone of the Mendoza River, with heights ranging from 800 to 1,100m over sea level and various microclimates, this is the zone where almost all noble varieties have easily become adapted. It is a region that is remarkably well-suited to vine culture, protected from the Pacific’s cooling influence by the Andes and enjoying a long summer of cool nights and warm days, with a dry summer climate but plenty of water available from the region’s rivers. Malbec in particular is outstanding from this area, and it has clearly emerged as the star, the darling of both consumers and critics.Mendoza Wines of MendozaValle de Uco On weinlagen-info |
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