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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Drinking window: Drink between 2009 and 2011 (based on 8 user opinions) |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 86.3 pts. and median of 87 pts. in 95 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by Flamemark on 3/13/2013 & rated 91 points: Dark color; fruity. (6388 views) | | | Tasted by peterchoy on 9/23/2012 & rated 88 points: Appearance: Bright and clear, opaque ruby in color, with garnet rims and legs.
Nose: Clean, medium (+) intensity and having developing aromas of black cherry, blackberry, prune, nutmeg, oak, slight savory and violet.
Palate: Dry with medium and lively acidity, the wine is of medium (+) tannin, ripe and dusty in texture. Medium alcohol and medium (+) body, it shows medium (+) intensity flavors of black cherry, blackberry, plum, violet and nutmeg, with medium length.
Conclusion: Good quality mid-priced Argentina Malbec, with a fairly intense nose showing reasonable complexity. The tannin is not too smooth though overall the balance is good with a fairly intense palate, also of reasonable complexity. Finishing with a reasonable length, this wine is ready to drink now and should not be aged further. (6860 views) | | | Tasted by vindiesel on 12/9/2011 & rated 50 points: Past its prime. All that was left was an abundant of fruit. No depth, character or spice. (8076 views) | | | Tasted by HollyS on 2/10/2011 & rated 60 points: It was cloudy! (9430 views) | | | Tasted by bons vinhos on 12/18/2010 & rated 85 points: Quaffable... (9758 views) | | | Tasted by dlstrauss on 11/4/2010 & rated 85 points: Very unremarkable on day 1. Much more drinkable day 2. (5143 views) | | | Tasted by Armando B on 8/24/2010 & rated 84 points: Dark fruit, pretty ripe. Wood and fig notes. OK, but not memorable in any way. (5107 views) | | | Tasted by cjgnyc on 8/14/2010: Earthy, smoky, deep ruby color. Enjoyed with lunch today, reminds me of the tasty Malbecs I drank in Argentina. A decent bottle, but have had better. Lacked some of the extra depth and complexity I enjoy with better Malbecs. (5339 views) | | | Tasted by Raul on 7/27/2010 & rated 88 points: COLOUR DEPTH: deep/daark; COLOUR HUE: garnet; CLARITY: clear; AROMA INTENSITY: moderate; DEVELOPMENT: some age; AROMAS: red fruits, wood, mineral and winey; DRY/SWEET: very dry; BODY: medium; ACIDITY: lively; TANNINS LEVEL: medium; TANNINS TYPE: soft; FLAVOUR INTENSITY: moderate/flavourful; FLAVOURS: red fruits, plum, wood, mineral and a hint of chocolate; FINISH: medium/long; CONCLUSIONS: Well balance, final with a hint of sweetness. (5324 views) | | | Tasted by rstark on 6/8/2010 & rated 85 points: Jerry Feitel Monthly Blind Tasting - Malbecs from Argentina (Del Mar, CA): Reticient nose. Young and not showing a lot. Brite light red fruit. Minimal finish. Rated #7 out of eight. (6157 views) | | | Tasted by MarkO'Mahony on 5/1/2010: Not desperately impressive- nice nose, good Malbec fruit flavours in the mouth at first, but the finish is disappointing- reasonable length but missing something... (5806 views) | | | Tasted by Wolfgang on 3/18/2010 & rated 89 points: Decent nose of macha, earth and a little vanilla, on the palate it is still a little oaky. It could use a little more bottle time, I pulled the trigger on this one a little early. (5950 views) | | | Tasted by ssimpsonjr on 3/15/2010 & rated 87 points: Enjoyed with burger and salad. I am going to call this a "barbell" wine. A bit more fruit forward than some recent Mendoza Malbecs I have had with nice cherry flavor. It seemed something was missing as there was a letdown in the middle before the spice kicked in. The finish was medium length and tannic, but the tannins were soft - the kind I might expect from a slightly aged Malbec - I knew they were there but did not realize how much until after the finish when my teeth still felt covered.
My thought is to drink now, but perhaps save a bottle until 2011. (6138 views) | | | Tasted by Krististoyanov on 3/8/2010 & rated 94 points: Excellent. Roboust (6108 views) | | | Tasted by Life At Your Leisure 🍷 on 2/14/2010 & rated 90 points: Deep ruby color with lots of minerals and sedimentation. The nose is very fruity. Very rich palate and concentrated raspberry, black cherry and soft oak, full-bodied texture with lots of chewy tannins and mineral-filled finish. Drink from 2010 to 2018. (1465 views) | | | Tasted by Wineandjoy on 2/13/2010 & rated 78 points: Pleasant cherry and red berries, but rather unremarkable. Medium body, fruity, light tannin. (5939 views) | | | Tasted by Sauvyfan on 2/9/2010 & rated 87 points: Opaque deep purple in appearance.Candied sweet Marichino cherry, and vanilla on the nose with a vegitative quality lurking in the backround. Excellent body and structure for the price. Lush black and red raspberry; a bit of oak and vanilla on the palate. Solid length and finish. (6036 views) | | | Tasted by thayosh on 1/15/2010 & rated 86 points: A nice, pleasant wine, but not very interesting. Subtle smell and taste of blackberry and vanilla. On first opening, there was a hint of red licorice, but that disappeared quickly. Finish is decent. Mild but distinctive tannins. There are other Malbecs for the same price I would rather buy. (6096 views) | | | Tasted by mkaminski on 12/12/2009 & rated 88 points: Deep dark purple colour. Fruity bouquet with aromas of prunes, ripe cherries and raisins. On the palate full of fruit, well-built, concentrated, powerful. Nice tannins. Pleasant finish. (6171 views) | | | Tasted by ikkaariainen on 11/20/2009 & rated 84 points: Very pleasant inexpensive good QPR malbec enjoyed last night with Kim at Jeff Ruby's steakhouse at the Belterra Casino on the Ohio River on the IN - KY state line. This wine would make an excellent every day drinker. Popped and poured but I don't think anything more is needed for this. Very approachable now, dark ruby, medium bodied, short aftertaste. Nose of bright cherry and rose, primary flavors very berry centered with cherry, raspberry, strawberry and minimal oak. (1699 views) | | | Tasted by amateurwino on 10/8/2009 & rated 87 points: smooth, a bit generic; nice nose but palate disappoints slightly. 86-88. (6306 views) | | | Tasted by Beavis77 on 9/25/2009: Oaky, tarry nose. Some herby notes and a little dusty blackberry.
Pretty jammy on the palate. Jammy berries and a little greenness.
Not very pleasant, to be honest. (6613 views) | | | Tasted by ColinR on 6/19/2009 & rated 87 points: Crimson-black; blackberries, black cherries, wood smoke, licorice; blackberry, creamy, medium-full body, good acidity, firm ripe tannins, decent finish.
Decanted 2 hrs. Nose one could mistake for a shiraz, fruity with good body and slightly disappointing finish. Still a good choice for smoked pork. (6829 views) | | | Tasted by Jorggarz on 6/6/2009 & rated 87 points: Sabor fuerte medio. After gaste dulce . Muy bueno !!! (6947 views) | | | Tasted by Millercg68 on 5/5/2009 & rated 88 points: Great for a Tuesday night! (6984 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| Terrazas de Los Andes Producer website
Cheval des Andes info, which at least as of Dec '19, does NOT show on the link above
Producer Location (Google Maps)Terrazas de Los Andes Malbec ReservaNestled high in the foothills of the Andes, Terrazas de los Andes takes its name from the “terrazas”, a series of terraced plateaus at the foothills of the Andes mountain range, scattered over altitudes ranging from 800 to 1,800 metres. Sourced from variety of vineyards located in the Mendoza sub regions of Lujan de Cuyo and Uco Valley with vines aged between 20 to 80 years, the 2019 Reserva Malbec was aged in a combination of used French oak for 12 months.
Malbec 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.ReservaStill Portuguese table wines of designated origin may also be labelled "reserva", indicating an alcohol content of at least 0.5% higher than the legal minimum established by the respective DOC or VR; however, stricter requirements in individual DOCs may supersede this standard.
(Court of Master Sommeliers)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 Mendoza |
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