I seem to be having a better experience with this wine right now than is the case with other cellartracker.com tasters. Also, a couple of years ago the wine was in a stage where it was good on the first night, but better on the second night. This bottle was finished in one night.....so will not be able to test that experience this time. However, this bottle was very good from the first pour and just like it had been on the second night before.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I thought this wine was likely to be tiring by now, but that was not the case. It was very ordinary on the first night, but in line with its price. On the second night it was a solid 92......and a great value. I would not have thought a wine of this age and price point would improve so much overnight. A clear message...….give it a long decant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Final bottle from a half case that was opened to serve with grilled tenderloin. First bottle in over three years. This has light orange bricking. Aromas include pleasant cassis, lavender, and loamy soil. Surprisingly vibrant acidity, the palate is showing secondary flavors with plum, toast, and iron that extends the finish.
This is fully mature. Showing its age, and while the acidity can hold this for another 18 months or so, I would recommend a plan to consume over that time period.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A little off from the last bottle. Needs to be open for at least an hour to open up.....or decant for up to that amount of time. Addendum.....much better the second night (a 92+). The message is decant for 2 to 3 hours.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Didn't write down any notes at time of consumption but thought this was good and seemed more complex than the price would lead you to believe. Was drinking nicely and well balanced.
Recommended
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is just singing, perfectly balanced, dark malbec fruits with minerality, acidity and no tannins. Really smooth and superb value. At its prime. Sad that i have only two left.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine was opened to serve with a venison dish covered with a bacon, shallot, mushroom, wine, beef broth sauce. On the first glass, the nose was tight. The wine reveals more aroma on the second glass with vanilla, black currant, tobacco, and sandalwood starting to peek through. On the palate, there is nice acidity, and the tannins have a noticeable grip for a Malbec. The oak is pronounced, and the smokiness offers a pepper complement to go with roasted black cherries and a deft touch of iron. There is a good cut to this wine in the finish with the smoke and pepper. While most Malbec's are fading at this point of their life, I think this stands out due to the Garcin influence. The fruit is more concentrated, and the tannins and acidity comparable to old world styles. I appreciate that old world style in this wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Great PQR. Still young and bright. Definite mineral note. Deep dark purple. Went great with New Orleans style red beans and rice. WA gives it a back end drink year of 2019. CT suggests a back end year of 2016. I would split the difference.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I like this a lot. Juicy dark ripe fruits, but with minerality and acidity. Very balanced, smooth with integrated tannins. Can't figure out why people are perceiving loads of oak. To me, there is some woody smokiness, but in no way overpowering. Frankly for me this is the best under $15 Malbec in the market.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pourvu d'un équilibre de funambule, il est particulièrement charmeur avec ses parfums de cassis, de pruneaux, d'épices, de réglisse, de tabac et de moka. Rond et ample en bouche, les tanins sont enrobés et la texture superbement veloutée. Un vin de cette qualité, offert autour de 25.00 $, c'est une excellente affaire!
Passer en carafe 30 minutes et servir à 17 °C. S'harmonisera impeccablement avec le braisé de boeuf à l'anis étoilé, les côtes levées à l'ail et au romarin, le boeuf à la Stroganov ou encore avec l'entrecôte au fromage bleu
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Waited several hours after opening. Dark purple in color, rocks and gravel and some dark fruit on the nose. Lots of oak and tannin, not well integrated, not a fruit bomb. Slightly hot on the finish. Perhaps my mistake was not pairing with a grilled steak, neither my wife nor I enjoyed this drinking on its own. Will try again in a year.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bright purple, clear. Mineral nose, crushed rocks, a bit of tar, subtle dark red fruits. On the palate, this is at its prime, perfectly balanced, minerally, fruits, perfect level of acidity and just a bit of tannins left. This is medium bodied, quite elegant not powerful and it is a delight compared to those in your face malbec fruit bombs. Wonderful, wife asked how many i had. That says it all.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ce superbe rouge d'Argentine enchante grâce à sa richesse et à ses saveurs mûres. Gorgé de soleil, voici un cru aux arômes de fruits des champs et de prune mûre, rehaussé de notes boisées bien dosées. Un pinard savoureux doté d'une belle allonge qui accompagnera à merveille le filet de boeuf avec champignons sauvages.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Loads of oak, with some ripe dark fruit and dried fruit. The wine is balanced (if you like oaky wines), with moderate acidity and tannins. The finish was long but simple. Drink now. The wine paired well with flank steak and salsa verde.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I have to confess, I don't understand this wine. It doesn't have the usual high fruit content of a Mendoza malbec. So in that regard, one could arguably say it is more restrained than usual. But I also don't find any nuance or complexity. If anything, it seems a bit unbalanced due to the excessive heat on the finish. Maybe this wine will develop into something more interesting with time? It doesn't seem to have the acidity or fruit to age well. Maybe the high alcohol will offer some protection as it ages?
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I'm not a Malbec fan but felt this one was quite interesting. Ash, tar and dark fruits. What will 3 years bring? Still somewhat one dimensional without much finesse. Very good with an excellent cheddar. Thought it might go well with a wood fire pizza.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This brings aromas of black fruits, mineral, spices and some toasty oak which lead the way into the dense, full-bodied structure. A solid wine and nice value. (Drink 2012-2017) - April, 2012. (JD)
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Notes consistent with others. I am not getting this wine at all. The oak is overwhelming, and the understated fruit profile is inconsistent. There are traces of underripe fruit coming out in the palate. Bouquet is a whole lot of nothing. Will need to sit on my next bottle for a few years and hope it comes out better.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Hmm, a bit of a mystery to me, as this has been written well of by a couple of well regarded reviewers (meaning JR and ST, not nec JM). Perhaps there has been bottle variation since then, because I just didn't get this.
This was not really my cup of tea, as it seemed to me to be a mix of both underripe and overripe fruit, with oak. I revisited the bottle on the second night and it was a little better, but, thereupon, the majority of the bottle went down the drain.
Still, some would say it's not yet in it's optimal window, being still too young, so I have 5 more bottles to play with, and hope to report an improvement on the next tasting - but I'm just not that sure that will happen.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium ruby. Intense caramelly, chocolatey nose and palate at first; seemed monolithic and boring. Wine really needed decanting, which brought out cherry fruit in the nose and palate, and slightly more layered structure on the palate. Nice wine, relatively ETD without being stupid and sweet; medium finish. No harm, no foul: solid.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fruitbomb upon opening. Smells hot, and has meat and ripe cherries on the nose. After decanting an hour, medium to long finish, black pepper and spices start to come out. Still has whispers of fruitbomb. Pepper really comes out with chili (no beans, of course!).
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Magic marker, soil, cherries on nose. Tart blackberries, plumbs, earth, smoked meat, black pepper. Finishes with powdery tannins and a little bitterness.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine (100% Malbec) was splash-decanted and serially tasted over three hours. The robe is medium-to-deep ruby and the nose opens after one hour in decanter to show moderately intense aromas of blackberries, licorice and light brett. Medium-bodied on the palate, with low acidity and medium sweet tannins. The alcohol (listed as 14.0%) is in check and the flavors are black fruit-dominated. The middle palate thins a bit, while the resurrected finish is medium in length and fairly smooth. This is certainly an enjoyable wine at this point but, in my opinion, those electing to cellar it for any substantial period of time are setting themselves up for disappointment. Drink now-12/14.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A nice nose that you catch a whiff of from a couple feet away. It's still a bit tannic, and i agree that it is not very structured. It could also use more mid palate body. Im sure many will cry blasphemy, but this strikes me as a very stylistically french wine. Overall not a bad for $16. Decanting for a hour or more is strongly recommended.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wow- way to young and hopefully will come together. Right now I can't score this wine- if I had to 83-85 pts. This wine is a mess and too tannic. Hopefully will come together with time- right now however- pass and I guess that is why all the wine shops are blowing these out price wise.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
4/3/2020 - WineGuyFL Likes this wine: 92 Points
I seem to be having a better experience with this wine right now than is the case with other cellartracker.com tasters. Also, a couple of years ago the wine was in a stage where it was good on the first night, but better on the second night. This bottle was finished in one night.....so will not be able to test that experience this time. However, this bottle was very good from the first pour and just like it had been on the second night before.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/3/2019 - fgar59 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Took a while to open up, but once it did it was great. 2-3 hour decant needed.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/5/2018 - WineGuyFL Likes this wine: 92 Points
I thought this wine was likely to be tiring by now, but that was not the case. It was very ordinary on the first night, but in line with its price. On the second night it was a solid 92......and a great value. I would not have thought a wine of this age and price point would improve so much overnight. A clear message...….give it a long decant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/27/2018 - redz wrote: flawed
undrinkable
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/20/2017 - COWineLover wrote: 88 Points
Final bottle from a half case that was opened to serve with grilled tenderloin. First bottle in over three years. This has light orange bricking. Aromas include pleasant cassis, lavender, and loamy soil. Surprisingly vibrant acidity, the palate is showing secondary flavors with plum, toast, and iron that extends the finish.
This is fully mature. Showing its age, and while the acidity can hold this for another 18 months or so, I would recommend a plan to consume over that time period.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/13/2017 - THF49 Likes this wine: 86 Points
bland and boring but ok
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/24/2016 - mhekman Likes this wine: 92 Points
Absolutely gorgeous Malbec. Decadent nose; mellow black fruit flavor profile and just a hint of tannin. This wine is FANTASTIC right now...drink up!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/11/2016 - THF49 Likes this wine: 89 Points
wine is peaking right now: smooth and mellow with all the Rioja flavors; drink cold at 65F or so.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/30/2016 - Somm Good Wine wrote:
Opened 2 in a row, this wine is past peak.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/12/2016 - WineGuyFL wrote: 88 Points
This bottle was off a little. Prior bottles were very good given the price point. I hope this is an aberration and not a trend.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/3/2015 - WineGuyFL Likes this wine: 91 Points
Best bottle yet. No decant. Great PQR.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/4/2014 - WineGuyFL wrote: 90 Points
A little off from the last bottle. Needs to be open for at least an hour to open up.....or decant for up to that amount of time. Addendum.....much better the second night (a 92+). The message is decant for 2 to 3 hours.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/10/2014 - pa81 Likes this wine:
Didn't write down any notes at time of consumption but thought this was good and seemed more complex than the price would lead you to believe. Was drinking nicely and well balanced.
Recommended
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/8/2014 - Merengue Likes this wine: 91 Points
This is just singing, perfectly balanced, dark malbec fruits with minerality, acidity and no tannins. Really smooth and superb value. At its prime. Sad that i have only two left.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/16/2014 - COWineLover wrote: 89 Points
This wine was opened to serve with a venison dish covered with a bacon, shallot, mushroom, wine, beef broth sauce. On the first glass, the nose was tight. The wine reveals more aroma on the second glass with vanilla, black currant, tobacco, and sandalwood starting to peek through. On the palate, there is nice acidity, and the tannins have a noticeable grip for a Malbec. The oak is pronounced, and the smokiness offers a pepper complement to go with roasted black cherries and a deft touch of iron. There is a good cut to this wine in the finish with the smoke and pepper. While most Malbec's are fading at this point of their life, I think this stands out due to the Garcin influence. The fruit is more concentrated, and the tannins and acidity comparable to old world styles. I appreciate that old world style in this wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/21/2014 - jdp2109 wrote: 90 Points
Well balanced and delicious. Better on Day 2. Not a blockbuster but very solid and a fantastic QPR
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/7/2013 - WineGuyFL wrote: 91 Points
Great PQR. Still young and bright. Definite mineral note. Deep dark purple. Went great with New Orleans style red beans and rice. WA gives it a back end drink year of 2019. CT suggests a back end year of 2016. I would split the difference.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/7/2013 - Merengue wrote: 89 Points
I like this a lot. Juicy dark ripe fruits, but with minerality and acidity. Very balanced, smooth with integrated tannins. Can't figure out why people are perceiving loads of oak. To me, there is some woody smokiness, but in no way overpowering. Frankly for me this is the best under $15 Malbec in the market.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/8/2013 - jsheaff wrote: 89 Points
Lots of good flavored on a cool damp afternoon
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/11/2013 - Janstan Likes this wine: 89 Points
very smooth and another malbec that I drank too young, didn't enjoy and after a few years have come to appreciate. Had with cheese, salami
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/19/2013 - philhamelin wrote:
Pourvu d'un équilibre de funambule, il est particulièrement charmeur avec ses parfums de cassis, de pruneaux, d'épices, de réglisse, de tabac et de moka. Rond et ample en bouche, les tanins sont enrobés et la texture superbement veloutée. Un vin de cette qualité, offert autour de 25.00 $, c'est une excellente affaire!
Passer en carafe 30 minutes et servir à 17 °C. S'harmonisera impeccablement avec le braisé de boeuf à l'anis étoilé, les côtes levées à l'ail et au romarin, le boeuf à la Stroganov ou encore avec l'entrecôte au fromage bleu
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/7/2013 - fgar59 Likes this wine: 90 Points
A nice balanced malbec. Not overpowering but clearly a malbec.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/9/2013 - Murali wrote:
Rajol and Sameer
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/18/2013 - BrianPA wrote: 85 Points
Waited several hours after opening. Dark purple in color, rocks and gravel and some dark fruit on the nose. Lots of oak and tannin, not well integrated, not a fruit bomb. Slightly hot on the finish. Perhaps my mistake was not pairing with a grilled steak, neither my wife nor I enjoyed this drinking on its own. Will try again in a year.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/2/2012 - Merengue wrote: 91 Points
Bright purple, clear. Mineral nose, crushed rocks, a bit of tar, subtle dark red fruits. On the palate, this is at its prime, perfectly balanced, minerally, fruits, perfect level of acidity and just a bit of tannins left. This is medium bodied, quite elegant not powerful and it is a delight compared to those in your face malbec fruit bombs. Wonderful, wife asked how many i had. That says it all.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/24/2012 - dabovino wrote: 90 Points
Not sure why the reviews are all over the place on this wine. It is an excellent Malbec. I think JM's description was right on.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/4/2012 - philhamelin wrote:
Ce superbe rouge d'Argentine enchante grâce à sa richesse et à ses saveurs mûres. Gorgé de soleil, voici un cru aux arômes de fruits des champs et de prune mûre, rehaussé de notes boisées bien dosées. Un pinard savoureux doté d'une belle allonge qui accompagnera à merveille le filet de boeuf avec champignons sauvages.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/24/2012 - limule wrote: 92 Points
Marie-lou & ET; EXCELLENT
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/6/2012 - Saint Stephen wrote: 87 Points
From memory of yesterday's lunch with grilled filet, juffer's note below is closest to my experience.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/20/2012 - reji wrote: 88 Points
Balanced. The fruit isn't overpowering and the tannins linger softly. Not a "wow" wine, but a decent everyday or party wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/14/2012 - JacksonLee wrote: 88 Points
nothing special
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/26/2012 - GoBlue2002 wrote: 88 Points
Loads of oak, with some ripe dark fruit and dried fruit. The wine is balanced (if you like oaky wines), with moderate acidity and tannins. The finish was long but simple. Drink now. The wine paired well with flank steak and salsa verde.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/1/2012 - juffer Does not like this wine: 83 Points
I have to confess, I don't understand this wine. It doesn't have the usual high fruit content of a Mendoza malbec. So in that regard, one could arguably say it is more restrained than usual. But I also don't find any nuance or complexity. If anything, it seems a bit unbalanced due to the excessive heat on the finish. Maybe this wine will develop into something more interesting with time? It doesn't seem to have the acidity or fruit to age well. Maybe the high alcohol will offer some protection as it ages?
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/4/2012 - Janstan wrote: 87 Points
I'm not a Malbec fan but felt this one was quite interesting. Ash, tar and dark fruits. What will 3 years bring? Still somewhat one dimensional without much finesse. Very good with an excellent cheddar. Thought it might go well with a wood fire pizza.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/2/2012 - InternationalWineReport wrote: 89 Points
This brings aromas of black fruits, mineral, spices and some toasty oak which lead the way into the dense, full-bodied structure. A solid wine and nice value. (Drink 2012-2017) - April, 2012. (JD)
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/4/2012 - urban_dk wrote: 84 Points
Notes consistent with others. I am not getting this wine at all. The oak is overwhelming, and the understated fruit profile is inconsistent. There are traces of underripe fruit coming out in the palate. Bouquet is a whole lot of nothing. Will need to sit on my next bottle for a few years and hope it comes out better.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/28/2012 - Wamrod wrote: 85 Points
Hmm, a bit of a mystery to me, as this has been written well of by a couple of well regarded reviewers (meaning JR and ST, not nec JM). Perhaps there has been bottle variation since then, because I just didn't get this.
This was not really my cup of tea, as it seemed to me to be a mix of both underripe and overripe fruit, with oak. I revisited the bottle on the second night and it was a little better, but, thereupon, the majority of the bottle went down the drain.
Still, some would say it's not yet in it's optimal window, being still too young, so I have 5 more bottles to play with, and hope to report an improvement on the next tasting - but I'm just not that sure that will happen.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/27/2012 - Siborg wrote: 91 Points
- Purple color with medium forming legs. It's balanced with a medium/full body. Round texture with a medium finish - Very smooth and drinkable
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/29/2012 - gtonn wrote: 85 Points
All oak. I hope this is just too young at this point
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/21/2012 - tabrand wrote: 87 Points
Very fruit forward, a little too much for my liking
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/13/2011 - granikmw wrote:
Medium ruby. Intense caramelly, chocolatey nose and palate at first; seemed monolithic and boring. Wine really needed decanting, which brought out cherry fruit in the nose and palate, and slightly more layered structure on the palate. Nice wine, relatively ETD without being stupid and sweet; medium finish. No harm, no foul: solid.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/2/2011 - BrewWench wrote: 87 Points
Fruitbomb upon opening. Smells hot, and has meat and ripe cherries on the nose. After decanting an hour, medium to long finish, black pepper and spices start to come out. Still has whispers of fruitbomb. Pepper really comes out with chili (no beans, of course!).
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/19/2011 - jeremy_ross wrote: 87 Points
Magic marker, soil, cherries on nose. Tart blackberries, plumbs, earth, smoked meat, black pepper. Finishes with powdery tannins and a little bitterness.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/26/2011 - tabrand wrote: 88 Points
A little harsh at first, goes great with chocolate
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/27/2011 - La Cave d'Argent wrote: 84 Points
This wine (100% Malbec) was splash-decanted and serially tasted over three hours. The robe is medium-to-deep ruby and the nose opens after one hour in decanter to show moderately intense aromas of blackberries, licorice and light brett. Medium-bodied on the palate, with low acidity and medium sweet tannins. The alcohol (listed as 14.0%) is in check and the flavors are black fruit-dominated. The middle palate thins a bit, while the resurrected finish is medium in length and fairly smooth. This is certainly an enjoyable wine at this point but, in my opinion, those electing to cellar it for any substantial period of time are setting themselves up for disappointment. Drink now-12/14.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/1/2011 - bullmrkt wrote: 85 Points
A nice nose that you catch a whiff of from a couple feet away. It's still a bit tannic, and i agree that it is not very structured. It could also use more mid palate body. Im sure many will cry blasphemy, but this strikes me as a very stylistically french wine. Overall not a bad for $16. Decanting for a hour or more is strongly recommended.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/11/2011 - VinoPKM wrote:
Wow- way to young and hopefully will come together. Right now I can't score this wine- if I had to 83-85 pts. This wine is a mess and too tannic. Hopefully will come together with time- right now however- pass and I guess that is why all the wine shops are blowing these out price wise.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/5/2010 - lumpkins wrote: 85 Points
another "deduct a minimum of 5 points for Jay Miller review" wine. very tannic.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/18/2010 - limule wrote: 90 Points
excellent
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment