2017 Tabalí Malbec Cabernet Franc Vetas Blancas

Community Tasting Notes (3) Avg Score: 89 points

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  9/25/2022 - lelandinmichigan wrote: 89 Points

  Dark purple color. Fairly closed, but clean aromatic profile. Hints of dark fruit and some spice. Broad, palate filling with gentle tannins, but the fruit and much of anything else remains restrained. Has a juicy, quaffable character, but I wonder if there will be more that opens up and develops over time. I don't think I'll ever find out, it wasn't good enough to buy more and this is my only bottle.

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  5/17/2022 - bprosenberg Likes this wine: 91 Points

  This wine fascinates me. Maybe it’s a function of the fact that I haven’t had Cabernet Franc in a long time. It has a powerful nose of spice and pepper. The wine itself is a bit spicy, with licorice and leather notes, as well as pepper—but in good way. Underneath the spice box is berry fruit and just a touch of tannins. The wine is powerful and a bit lean at the same time—and all in balance. Served with a pan-seared filet with a red wine reduction.

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  7/17/2021 - Cabfrancophile Likes this wine: 90 Points

  This wine wonderfully subverted my expectations. A hyphenated Bordeaux varietal-named wine from Chile with a sticker proclaiming a 90+ point score is usually good for a dose of bell pepper, deep cassis flavor, and chewy tannin.
  
  This wine drank more like liquid rock, with chalky texture and iron minerality at its core. As a result, this had a supple, nearly elegant core. Layered on top was a wave of umami. While richer than a hypothetical Loire Cot-Breton, the old world roots of the cultivars are displayed nicely. Good ripeness and finessed extraction to the tannins--grip and structure are integrated. A bit tight on the nose--florals, hay, and currant can be coaxed out--but a minor limitation given the interest on the palate.
  
  Aged in used oak--there is no overt oakiness. Also of note, pH is reported 3.39, which is impressive given the ABV, and in a great sweet spot to provide freshness/tension.
  
  The label makes a point about the coastal influence on their vineyard and in fact Vetas Blancas refers to the limestone-veined terroir. Certainly an interesting producer/region to track. Great QPR as well.

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