Dark black purple color with some early separation at the rim. Not highly aromatic but some strawberry, leather, and blackberries. Fully mature and ready to consume now. May last a few more years but doubt it will improve from where it is now (in fact it may be on the downward side after peaking).
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This is still showing a very confident deepish crimson colour. The vegetal theme is still there on the nose, even more so - dried grass, just-starting-to-rot grass, but there is plenty of ripe, spice-laden plum and zest here too, which compensates. The grassy aspect doesn't follow on to the palate, thankfully, and this is tasting as if the seven years since my last note hadn't passed at all! Monolithic, surprisingly fresh and youthful, there may be another decade in this. Not fine wine, being too brash and in-my-face to be so, even discounting the not entirely enrapturing aromatics. Very good, though I'm sure I'd tire of this quickly enough if it ever made the daily-drinker list, unless porterhouse steak was the only food in the house.
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The nose has blue & black fruit with some floral notes. A lot of the same on the palate with nice acidity for balance and freshness. Probably has a year or two left. Nice wine with a good price point ($20).
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Tart on opening. I will wait a couple of years before opening the next bottle to let the tannins fade a little more. Nice balance with plenty of fruit. Opened over a couple of hours.
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Nice solid Malbec. Cherries and black fruit. Long finish Awesome value for $18/bottle. Achaval-Ferrer is a very solid producer year in and year out. Probably at peak
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Purple in the glass bit cloudy, intense glass staining, nose of black/blue fruits and cacao, elegant balanced palate with a sense of place, notes of black plum, berry, anise and a hint of black pepper. Nice refined example of Mendoza Malbec.
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A nice well-balanced Malbec. For people who think they don't like argentine Malbec because they're used to the budget options, this is a good introduction to some of the great wines being made in Mendoza.
Paired well with braised brisket.
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Le Malbec d’Argentine a son meilleur. Avec le Catena, ce vin figure dans mes valeurs sures. Un vin à la couleur rouge cerise aux reflets pourpres. Le nez est sexy avec son bouquet dominé de violette, de cassis, de bois et de café. Un rouge élégant, des tanins bien ficelés et des saveurs gourmandes de fruits noirs, de réglisse et de chocolat noir. Difficile de faire mieux à ce prix.
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A pleasant Malbec, lavender, dark fruit, herbs, and smoke. The palate is concentrated and tasty without being heavy. Overall quite tasty and a good value.
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Strong blackberry notes on the nose, with aromas of smoked meat and oak also present. Full bodied, with a variety of berry flavors--straw and black especially. The flavor sort of comes on in waves, with the fruit followed by oak followed by tannins. Long finish.
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Over 4 bottles this was was always solid but never special. Maybe time would help but it never seemed like it was going to offer anyting worth waiting for.
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Dark purple. Black cherry candy nose followed by some licorice and raspberry/blackberry. 100% malbec, 14.5% alcohol. Some black pepper. Largely unchanged from 18 months ago.
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A nose of dark fruit and spice, dark purple in color. A medium to full bodied Malbec, with black cherry, raspberry, minerals and spice on finish, a good QPR. www.winelx.com
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I didn't really like the nose on this and have a hard time describing it. Something green about it. The wine is ripe and fruity but it is dry and has good acid. Some tobacco and rocky notes. Not in my wheelhouse.
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Dark crimson/purple colour. The nose has a green stalk character but not unpleasant. Big mouthfeel but soft and dry with a lingering finish. High alcohol but well balanced. PS: Tasting the next day showed a very cloudy sediment so clearly you need to allow the bottle to stand for at least a few days and then decant before serving.
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Excellent Malbec. Hints of tobacco on the nose. Lots of fruit flavors. Mouthfilling. Would be good with a grilled steak, but we had it with a 'Mediterranean Salmon', which was flavorful enough to complement.
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Beautiful blackberry on the nose with a strong leather aroma and a touch of smoked meat. Cherry, blackberry, toasty vanilla, and tree nut, with a touch of peach on the finish. Mild to moderate tannins and excellent balance.
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Aromatic and full of berry flavor. Moderate earth and acidity. Good length on the finish. Just a solid, food-ready effort, though one rightly priced around $20 or less.
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The color is dense inky purple and opaque. The aromas are rich and sweet berries, vanilla, sweet cherry, earth, and menthol. The tastes are dark sweet cherry, jammy dark fruit, sweet tobacco leaves, earthy minerals, red licorice, and cola. This wine is delicious and very fragrant. The tannins are course velvet and the finish is smoky and lengthy. This would be a great food wine but also a delicious on its own.
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i paid 19.99 on sale. for this price point i'd say this is a complex malbec with a little more nuance and complexity than a lot of big jammy malbecs out there right now.
on the nose. raspberries, blackberries, and even some orange peel. vanilla and leather. a little more red fruit than other malbecs at this price point.
on the palate: a tiny bit of sweetness when it hits the tongue. ripe raspberries and blackberries. dried herbs and leather. finishes with soft tannins and candied fruits. even a hint of bacon. bright but not tart.
overall: a(relatively) delicate malbec once it opens up. fruit forward and floral without being overwhelming. the fruit is balanced with some savory aromas and flavors. soft tannins and enough acidity to keep it from tasting flabby.
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This was a little disappointing. Rather four-square and heavier than the previous vintage I drank (2007?), which I liked very much. This had richness and depth, but it was not as lifted or floral as I'd hoped and recalled that previous vintage to be. Could be that this needs a few more years and/or vintage variation. I'll hold my other couple of bottles and see what happens.
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Weekly tasting group #096; A fully blind test. (@ AH): Deep dark purple. Ripe blueberry juice in the bouquet. On the palate blackberries as well. A lot of sweetness and also some acidity. Soft tannin. Ready now and the next few years.
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From 75cl. Most of the CT "tasting notes" for this wine are a blast. I just love the way that people lay down the law by awarding "66P" or "93P" without bothering to write a single word of explanation. Duh? OK, I tasted this in a bustling Houston TX restaurant in the liveliest of company, but I did manage to note that it was a darkly aromatic, elegant wine, with taut acidity, remarkably smoothly burnished tannins and a rich, almost balsamic finish. So that's my justification for giving it 90P.
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This is purple hued, and densely colored. The aromas are sweet currant, plum, hard fruit candy, and floral scents. The tastes are currant, plum, blackberry, earth, and red licorice. The tannins are unexpectedly light weight and there is come acidic grip. The finish is nice and easy.
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Loads of blackberry and plum on the nose and palate. Inky and dense, with a lush mouthfeel; this is more hedonistic than complex. A skosh of tar near the finish.
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tart. acidic. too young . changes taste within one minute to the next. good. bad. good. drives me crazy. disappointed . too much effort to try together a good taste out of it. should not be sold in a restaurant for a few years.
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A violet colored wine with a potpourri fruited tobacco bell pepper and slightly floral nose. In the mouth it offered a core of earthy ripe fruits with lively acidity. And I agree that it could use a little more bottle age to come together and develop.
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This bottle was much smokier than the others I have had from this producer and vintage. It also lasted longer than one day like the others. Interesting.
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After tasting a velvet and smooth DV Catena, this wine tasted a little bit too spicy and sour. Alcohol stands out too. The wine looks Violet colored. The legs are Medium. It smells like and Black Pepper. It tastes like and Black Pepper. The body is Light. The wine has Bright texture. The wine finishes Short.
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This needs to be decanted to enjoy to the fullest. Temperature is key as well. First night had mint and pepper notes, bitter, totally disjointed, and I did not like it. I remember this from a previous vintage. Came together nicely on day 2 an was very approachable. Nice purple color, dark fruits, and short to medium finish.
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N: black plum and tobacco red pepper like paprika. P: tannins a little tight. Not fruit forward. But needs time to open up. Higher acidity and minerality. Long alcohol thruout palate. Needs time. Will be better with decanting and can probably use more time cellaring.
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10,000 cases produced. Nice bridge between New world and Old world. Light spice, little gamey quality, but nice red fruit as well. Very good for an entry level wine from a brilliant producer.
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This had to be a bad bottle. Reminiscent of cheap jug wine. Fruit was there, but yech, too sweet, very much an awkward new world wine. Medicinal. Maybe it was corked.
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Restaurantkøb i Buenos Aires. Farven er mørkrød med lilla reflekser. Duften vælter op af glasset med tydelige florale toner og en frugt der bare er dejlig. Denne vin er ung og mindre kompleks men utrolig god og perfekt balanceret. Dejlig syre og tannin. Kan drikkes med eller uden mad. Hældt på karaffel, hvilket nok er en must.
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I was distracted - very earnest conversation. However this was a well integrated, fine tannin, wine with good fruit (blueberry) and a good acidity. Drinking well now and good for a few years. Great intro to this producer.
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A deepish crimson colour. The nose begins modestly, but then, out of the blue, Vegemite yeast extract appears. Blueberry takes over, along with hints of grassy vegetation and animal. Then, for a short while, it goes briny, conveying a distinct impression of freshly shucked shellfish. Towards the end, it was a melange of tomato paste, dark chocolate and ripe, black plums. The palate is full bodied and starts with a slightly distracting bitterness. Lots of partly spicy red to black coloured berry, but I'm not finding much in the way of personality, initially. While I was wondering whether a mono varietal malbec bottling is the stuff for me, the palate developed very positively. It became zesty, with lovely acids and edginess. Showing great restraint in not going over to the jammy side, given the volume of material. Fine.
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Opened about 4 hours before serving. Dark purple, intense casis nose with a hint of spices. Initial flavors of currents, touch of leather, noticeable acidity, and soft, slightly drying tanins with a plum finish. I don't think this wine is fully integrated yet, and should be better in a year or two. Probably best drunk in 3-5 years.
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This wine was good, but not great. I am sure I will enjoy it in a few more years. It was too young and fruity for me. Decanted for 2+ hours. I preferred it on Day 2 because the fruit had died down, and you could taste some backbone in the wine.
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Lovely florals on the nose as others have pointed out. Lively and concentrated red fruits on the palate, with lively acidity. The tannins clamp down a bit on the finish suggesting that this might smooth out with some cellaring. But it is very drinkable now. I had good luck with cellaring the '08 for a couple of years and it was much smoother after that. Good value here at $17.
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Opaque purple red violet color; appealing, savory, tart black fruit, tar, light brett nose; tasty, complex, savory, tart black fruit, violets, tar palate; needs 1-2 years; medium-plus finish (14.5% alcohol, decent value at $20)
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This wine gave me a "Ratatouille" moment. The nose of honeysuckle flowers took me back to spring time and the wild honeysuckle vines that climbed the fence in our back yard in North Carolina where I grew up. This Sense/memory connection may have cause me to give an extra point to a wine that may not have normally merited it (at least at this time).
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Sec moyennement corsé, fruité et floral. Couleur rouge intense et très extrait. Nez puissant et floral. Arômes de petits fruits rouges, de bleuets et de fleurs. Bouche qui suit le nez. Tannins souples, texture onctueuse, saine acidité.
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Powerful aromas of currant, raspberry, cherry, and plum. The tannins are somewhat harsh at this stage and the flavor is not as developed, but this is still a relatively easy drinking wine with a longer finish.
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Nice typical nose for the Achaval malbec: savory edge with an almost meat juice note. Blue fruit with a touch of cherry. Full body but avoid any heaviness, supple, similar to the nose but with also a blood orange note and a acidity like. Hint of plum. As always, a very good malbec.
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Full-bodied, round and creamy texture with flavors of blueberry, blackberry, raspberry, sunflowers, and cola. Has a lot of ripeness without going jammy that leads to an elegant finish. Great value for an everyday wine. This will pair very well with barbequed dishes.
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Concentrated purple. Oaky, deep and mature nose, difficult to grasp this is only 18 months old. Some violet and tobacco perfume, no sign of malo, but a Port-like old oak kirsch stew aroma that you wouldn't normally associate with Malbec. Big tannins and acids in the mouth, ripe fruits. Slightly sharp on the finish. Questionable value. This wine has a ripasso-like aspect that I don't agree with and don't ever want to see in good Mendoza Malbec.
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No specific notes. Very strong nose of licorice and mint. Strong flavors, good finish. Enjoyable on its own, but really excellent with gorgonzola. Would be especially nice with an Italian meal/tomato sauce/pizza. Overall, the 2010 was a more characteristic Malbec, but I enjoyed this wine. Good QPR.
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I really like Achaval-Ferrer's Quimera blend and was excited to try this Malbec after reading Wine Spectator's glowing review as a "best value"... having now done so, I don't know where that review came from! I found this to be overly light, tart and completely lacking in almost all of the qualities I like in Malbec (and I drink Malbec often). Even the floral note which WS commented on, though definitely apparent, was off-putting and bitter. And worst of all, it had the presence of that "cheap red" flavor I so despise in some wines. Wow, VERY dissapointing experience with a greatly overly-praised wine, in my opinion. There are Malbecs at this price or even a few bucks lower that blow this away!
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Yum, I agree with the previous reviewer who suggested this is a transitional/intro Malbec for Syrah lovers. That's a great description.
Very nice on first sip from the pop-n-pour; moderate to soft tannins, some jammy fruits emerging, well integrated, nicely balanced ... good midweek with a meal, or around the campfire on the weekend. Suddenly, I'm wishing I'd bought more.
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Juicy, concentrated blackberry juice, with overtones of pepper, spice and mineral... Medium-medium-plus body.... dusty tannins.. reminiscent of some Syrahs... a good transition to Malbec for Syrah lovers... Consistently a recommendable, must try, Argentinian Malbec...
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4/20/2024 - Mnawacki Likes this wine: 88 Points
Solid, all soft and smooth now.
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1/17/2021 - DH90 Likes this wine: 87 Points
Dark black purple color with some early separation at the rim. Not highly aromatic but some strawberry, leather, and blackberries. Fully mature and ready to consume now. May last a few more years but doubt it will improve from where it is now (in fact it may be on the downward side after peaking).
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12/4/2020 - Ingmars wrote:
This is still showing a very confident deepish crimson colour. The vegetal theme is still there on the nose, even more so - dried grass, just-starting-to-rot grass, but there is plenty of ripe, spice-laden plum and zest here too, which compensates. The grassy aspect doesn't follow on to the palate, thankfully, and this is tasting as if the seven years since my last note hadn't passed at all! Monolithic, surprisingly fresh and youthful, there may be another decade in this. Not fine wine, being too brash and in-my-face to be so, even discounting the not entirely enrapturing aromatics. Very good, though I'm sure I'd tire of this quickly enough if it ever made the daily-drinker list, unless porterhouse steak was the only food in the house.
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1/12/2020 - foyfrcs Likes this wine: 88 Points
Last bottle from cellar, tart, didn’t open up a great deal, still drinkable, think it has run its course.
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12/23/2017 - SICILIAN-SOLE Likes this wine: 91 Points
The nose has blue & black fruit with some floral notes. A lot of the same on the palate with nice acidity for balance and freshness. Probably has a year or two left. Nice wine with a good price point ($20).
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11/19/2017 - pnwbrian2001@gmail.com Likes this wine: 91 Points
Tart on opening. I will wait a couple of years before opening the next bottle to let the tannins fade a little more. Nice balance with plenty of fruit. Opened over a couple of hours.
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4/25/2016 - mark1961 wrote: 50 Points
Not my taste-
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4/17/2016 - jackaroo wrote:
Coming into it's own Finally approaching the 91+ reviews. I'd give it another three plus years of optimum drinking.
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2/22/2016 - GaryHOhio wrote: 90 Points
Nice solid Malbec. Cherries and black fruit. Long finish
Awesome value for $18/bottle.
Achaval-Ferrer is a very solid producer year in and year out.
Probably at peak
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2/6/2016 - WineCenturyAZ Likes this wine: 87 Points
Purple in the glass bit cloudy, intense glass staining, nose of black/blue fruits and cacao, elegant balanced palate with a sense of place, notes of black plum, berry, anise and a hint of black pepper. Nice refined example of Mendoza Malbec.
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1/23/2016 - jfeingold wrote: 87 Points
Drinks fine, maybe a little too sweet for my taste and lacking a little of the spice I enjoy with malbecs. Pretty garnet color, nose of oak.
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11/2/2015 - maderay wrote: 78 Points
Not very pleasant. Some type of after-taste
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10/12/2015 - jaredoco Likes this wine: 90 Points
A nice well-balanced Malbec. For people who think they don't like argentine Malbec because they're used to the budget options, this is a good introduction to some of the great wines being made in Mendoza.
Paired well with braised brisket.
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8/31/2015 - Dan & Krista Stockman Likes this wine: 90 Points
Didn't stand out on its own, but was fabulous with beef.
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7/23/2015 - pgartner Likes this wine: 90 Points
Excellent for a meat dish
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6/19/2015 - Matcavanna wrote: 90 Points
Great Malbec, Plummy, full body, black liquorice, and black currant. Long finish.
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5/22/2015 - dhewko wrote:
Tastes young, tannins, choke cherry, 87 max
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5/13/2015 - Tire-bouchon Griffin Likes this wine: 91 Points
Le Malbec d’Argentine a son meilleur. Avec le Catena, ce vin figure dans mes valeurs sures. Un vin à la couleur rouge cerise aux reflets pourpres. Le nez est sexy avec son bouquet dominé de violette, de cassis, de bois et de café. Un rouge élégant, des tanins bien ficelés et des saveurs gourmandes de fruits noirs, de réglisse et de chocolat noir. Difficile de faire mieux à ce prix.
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5/2/2015 - jackaroo wrote:
Lost much of the harshness, but still not integrated. Maybe another couple of years.
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4/25/2015 - Ozsnapper wrote: 88 Points
Not that impressed, maybe a bad bottle?
Color is lovely, nose is nothing to write home about. Palate is also quite uninspiring.
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4/11/2015 - jnewman77 wrote:
A pleasant Malbec, lavender, dark fruit, herbs, and smoke. The palate is concentrated and tasty without being heavy. Overall quite tasty and a good value.
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3/28/2015 - quanmeister wrote: 86 Points
I think this one is past it's peak. All the fruit is gone. Not as enjoyable as the one I had a few years ago. Glad it's my last bottle.
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1/29/2015 - Jake112380 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Strong blackberry notes on the nose, with aromas of smoked meat and oak also present. Full bodied, with a variety of berry flavors--straw and black especially. The flavor sort of comes on in waves, with the fruit followed by oak followed by tannins. Long finish.
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12/17/2014 - snarfglk wrote: 89 Points
Drank over 3 days; got better each day. Still young and drinking well.
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12/6/2014 - cyrop wrote:
Bbb vvv hhh.
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11/29/2014 - lifeattable Likes this wine: 88 Points
Over 4 bottles this was was always solid but never special. Maybe time would help but it never seemed like it was going to offer anyting worth waiting for.
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11/24/2014 - citizen1 wrote: 89 Points
Dense fruit. Black. Spice. Drinking very nicely right now.
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11/10/2014 - Cellarseller Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dense fruit.
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10/19/2014 - smphelps wrote: 88 Points
Dark purple. Black cherry candy nose followed by some licorice and raspberry/blackberry. 100% malbec, 14.5% alcohol. Some black pepper. Largely unchanged from 18 months ago.
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9/23/2014 - corkscrews Likes this wine: 89 Points
A nose of dark fruit and spice, dark purple in color. A medium to full bodied Malbec, with black cherry, raspberry, minerals and spice on finish, a good QPR. www.winelx.com
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9/20/2014 - marcellevi Likes this wine: 89 Points
Bold, med-full bodied. Ripe plum, smoke, toasty. Good value.
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9/18/2014 - danielbleier Likes this wine: 89 Points
Big broad flavors - blackberry and chocolate - enjoyable entry wine
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8/15/2014 - Outplaying wrote:
I didn't really like the nose on this and have a hard time describing it. Something green about it. The wine is ripe and fruity but it is dry and has good acid. Some tobacco and rocky notes. Not in my wheelhouse.
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6/10/2014 - Bouddi26 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Dark crimson/purple colour. The nose has a green stalk character but not unpleasant. Big mouthfeel but soft and dry with a lingering finish. High alcohol but well balanced. PS: Tasting the next day showed a very cloudy sediment so clearly you need to allow the bottle to stand for at least a few days and then decant before serving.
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5/24/2014 - madvitale Likes this wine: 88 Points
Excellent Malbec. Hints of tobacco on the nose. Lots of fruit flavors. Mouthfilling. Would be good with a grilled steak, but we had it with a 'Mediterranean Salmon', which was flavorful enough to complement.
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5/4/2014 - snarfglk wrote: 89 Points
Just missing an over-the-top quality to make it a 90. Better day 2.
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4/14/2014 - LINY08 wrote: 90 Points
Drank beautifully. Wish I had more.
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3/12/2014 - Cellarseller Likes this wine: 90 Points
Lots of dark, dense fruit and great texture.
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2/20/2014 - janis1207 Likes this wine: 87 Points
Typically Argentinian malbec. Very pronounced black currant when well aired.
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12/30/2013 - DWSome221 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Beautiful blackberry on the nose with a strong leather aroma and a touch of smoked meat. Cherry, blackberry, toasty vanilla, and tree nut, with a touch of peach on the finish. Mild to moderate tannins and excellent balance.
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12/27/2013 - jeffal66 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Aromatic and full of berry flavor. Moderate earth and acidity. Good length on the finish. Just a solid, food-ready effort, though one rightly priced around $20 or less.
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12/13/2013 - hackey37 Likes this wine: 92 Points
The color is dense inky purple and opaque. The aromas are rich and sweet berries, vanilla, sweet cherry, earth, and menthol. The tastes are dark sweet cherry, jammy dark fruit, sweet tobacco leaves, earthy minerals, red licorice, and cola. This wine is delicious and very fragrant. The tannins are course velvet and the finish is smoky and lengthy. This would be a great food wine but also a delicious on its own.
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12/8/2013 - Merky_Waters Likes this wine: 90 Points
i paid 19.99 on sale. for this price point i'd say this is a complex malbec with a little more nuance and complexity than a lot of big jammy malbecs out there right now.
on the nose. raspberries, blackberries, and even some orange peel. vanilla and leather. a little more red fruit than other malbecs at this price point.
on the palate: a tiny bit of sweetness when it hits the tongue. ripe raspberries and blackberries. dried herbs and leather. finishes with soft tannins and candied fruits. even a hint of bacon. bright but not tart.
overall: a(relatively) delicate malbec once it opens up. fruit forward and floral without being overwhelming. the fruit is balanced with some savory aromas and flavors. soft tannins and enough acidity to keep it from tasting flabby.
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11/22/2013 - jah31 wrote: 85 Points
This was a little disappointing. Rather four-square and heavier than the previous vintage I drank (2007?), which I liked very much. This had richness and depth, but it was not as lifted or floral as I'd hoped and recalled that previous vintage to be. Could be that this needs a few more years and/or vintage variation. I'll hold my other couple of bottles and see what happens.
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11/13/2013 - JumpAroundOnGrapes wrote: 91 Points
Dark, dense, yet soft tannins. Plum, candied cherry, dark fruits. Floral notes, violets, even eucalyptus. Really interesting at $20.
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11/11/2013 - Zweder wrote: 87 Points
Weekly tasting group #096; A fully blind test. (@ AH): Deep dark purple. Ripe blueberry juice in the bouquet. On the palate blackberries as well. A lot of sweetness and also some acidity. Soft tannin. Ready now and the next few years.
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11/3/2013 - Sourdough wrote: 89 Points
Nice but not special.
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10/24/2013 - jviz Likes this wine: 88 Points
dense and viscous wine, fruit notes of blackberry and currant. well balanced but not complex.
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10/4/2013 - honest bob wrote: 90 Points
From 75cl. Most of the CT "tasting notes" for this wine are a blast. I just love the way that people lay down the law by awarding "66P" or "93P" without bothering to write a single word of explanation. Duh? OK, I tasted this in a bustling Houston TX restaurant in the liveliest of company, but I did manage to note that it was a darkly aromatic, elegant wine, with taut acidity, remarkably smoothly burnished tannins and a rich, almost balsamic finish. So that's my justification for giving it 90P.
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9/18/2013 - CASEBIER KENNETH wrote: 86 Points
See order notes. Bitter overtones
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9/6/2013 - hackey37 Likes this wine: 90 Points
This is purple hued, and densely colored. The aromas are sweet currant, plum, hard fruit candy, and floral scents. The tastes are currant, plum, blackberry, earth, and red licorice. The tannins are unexpectedly light weight and there is come acidic grip. The finish is nice and easy.
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8/14/2013 - JElk wrote: 90 Points
Decent nose, palate at open, better 4hrs later; nothing amazing, but may end up on WS Top 100 given smooth nature at $20.
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8/7/2013 - TCKM wrote: 88 Points
Consistent with prior bottles.
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7/13/2013 - topher2411 wrote: 90 Points
Classic Argentine malbec. Bright fruits complemented with enough savory flavors and smooth tannins.
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7/10/2013 - Bbaldinger wrote: flawed
Corked
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6/29/2013 - ziavino wrote: 90 Points
Loads of blackberry and plum on the nose and palate. Inky and dense, with a lush mouthfeel; this is more hedonistic than complex. A skosh of tar near the finish.
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6/25/2013 - Coralspringscom wrote:
tart. acidic. too young . changes taste within one minute to the next. good. bad. good. drives me crazy. disappointed . too much effort to try together a good taste out of it. should not be sold in a restaurant for a few years.
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6/19/2013 - Donjcorleone wrote: 89 Points
A violet colored wine with a potpourri fruited tobacco bell pepper and slightly floral nose. In the mouth it offered a core of earthy ripe fruits with lively acidity. And I agree that it could use a little more bottle age to come together and develop.
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6/7/2013 - jackaroo Likes this wine:
Very young, and needs at least another two or three years to bring out it's full potential. Great bouquet but too young for me to rate.
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5/18/2013 - cupoverflowing1 Likes this wine: 88 Points
nice nose, but finish is off... tastes very young... should improve with age
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4/29/2013 - wineslide Likes this wine:
This bottle was much smokier than the others I have had from this producer and vintage. It also lasted longer than one day like the others. Interesting.
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4/27/2013 - Adriabreu Does not like this wine: 87 Points
After tasting a velvet and smooth DV Catena, this wine tasted a little bit too spicy and sour. Alcohol stands out too.
The wine looks Violet colored. The legs are Medium. It smells like and Black Pepper. It tastes like and Black Pepper. The body is Light. The wine has Bright texture. The wine finishes Short.
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4/24/2013 - KikeG wrote: 88 Points
This needs to be decanted to enjoy to the fullest. Temperature is key as well. First night had mint and pepper notes, bitter, totally disjointed, and I did not like it. I remember this from a previous vintage. Came together nicely on day 2 an was very approachable. Nice purple color, dark fruits, and short to medium finish.
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4/14/2013 - Win-E Likes this wine: 88 Points
N: black plum and tobacco red pepper like paprika.
P: tannins a little tight. Not fruit forward. But needs time to open up. Higher acidity and minerality. Long alcohol thruout palate. Needs time. Will be better with decanting and can probably use more time cellaring.
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3/26/2013 - GTFreek wrote:
10,000 cases produced. Nice bridge between New world and Old world. Light spice, little gamey quality, but nice red fruit as well. Very good for an entry level wine from a brilliant producer.
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3/20/2013 - Rktekt3 wrote: 90 Points
I changed my score from last night to tonight. One day made a huge difference on this wine. From 88 to a 90
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3/16/2013 - Cyberpana wrote: 86 Points
Even though it has an interesting aroma, I didn't like its pepper and mint flavor
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3/7/2013 - TCKM wrote: 88 Points
full and lush on entry. showing aome heat on the back end that detracts..
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3/6/2013 - oldworldlover Does not like this wine: 82 Points
This had to be a bad bottle. Reminiscent of cheap jug wine. Fruit was there, but yech, too sweet, very much an awkward new world wine. Medicinal. Maybe it was corked.
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3/5/2013 - Engelund Likes this wine: 90 Points
Restaurantkøb i Buenos Aires. Farven er mørkrød med lilla reflekser. Duften vælter op af glasset med tydelige florale toner og en frugt der bare er dejlig. Denne vin er ung og mindre kompleks men utrolig god og perfekt balanceret. Dejlig syre og tannin. Kan drikkes med eller uden mad. Hældt på karaffel, hvilket nok er en must.
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3/2/2013 - Winevestor Likes this wine: 90 Points
I was distracted - very earnest conversation. However this was a well integrated, fine tannin, wine with good fruit (blueberry) and a good acidity. Drinking well now and good for a few years. Great intro to this producer.
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2/24/2013 - Ingmars wrote:
A deepish crimson colour. The nose begins modestly, but then, out of the blue, Vegemite yeast extract appears. Blueberry takes over, along with hints of grassy vegetation and animal. Then, for a short while, it goes briny, conveying a distinct impression of freshly shucked shellfish. Towards the end, it was a melange of tomato paste, dark chocolate and ripe, black plums. The palate is full bodied and starts with a slightly distracting bitterness. Lots of partly spicy red to black coloured berry, but I'm not finding much in the way of personality, initially. While I was wondering whether a mono varietal malbec bottling is the stuff for me, the palate developed very positively. It became zesty, with lovely acids and edginess. Showing great restraint in not going over to the jammy side, given the volume of material. Fine.
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2/22/2013 - jeffal66 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Deep and rich. No notes but enjoyable and this wine has more miles ahead of it.
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2/18/2013 - Ken332 wrote: 89 Points
Opened about 4 hours before serving. Dark purple, intense casis nose with a hint of spices. Initial flavors of currents, touch of leather, noticeable acidity, and soft, slightly drying tanins with a plum finish. I don't think this wine is fully integrated yet, and should be better in a year or two. Probably best drunk in 3-5 years.
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2/18/2013 - Pdxmark2 wrote: 90 Points
Lively. Semi-dry, complex, full-bodied but not overpowering.
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1/25/2013 - VinoServant wrote: 88 Points
This wine was good, but not great. I am sure I will enjoy it in a few more years. It was too young and fruity for me. Decanted for 2+ hours. I preferred it on Day 2 because the fruit had died down, and you could taste some backbone in the wine.
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1/13/2013 - weingutwilhelm wrote: 90 Points
Potpourri, chocolate, cherry, cranberry, dried herbs. Medium body, earthy with just ripe fruit, core of bright fruit and zesty acidity. ★
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1/13/2013 - SpoochMan Likes this wine: 90 Points
Lovely florals on the nose as others have pointed out. Lively and concentrated red fruits on the palate, with lively acidity. The tannins clamp down a bit on the finish suggesting that this might smooth out with some cellaring. But it is very drinkable now. I had good luck with cellaring the '08 for a couple of years and it was much smoother after that. Good value here at $17.
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1/11/2013 - rjonwine@gmail.com Likes this wine: 91 Points
Opaque purple red violet color; appealing, savory, tart black fruit, tar, light brett nose; tasty, complex, savory, tart black fruit, violets, tar palate; needs 1-2 years; medium-plus finish (14.5% alcohol, decent value at $20)
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1/11/2013 - rfm9882 wrote: 91 Points
This wine gave me a "Ratatouille" moment. The nose of honeysuckle flowers took me back to spring time and the wild honeysuckle vines that climbed the fence in our back yard in North Carolina where I grew up. This Sense/memory connection may have cause me to give an extra point to a wine that may not have normally merited it (at least at this time).
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1/5/2013 - Samsara Likes this wine: 85 Points
Sec moyennement corsé, fruité et floral. Couleur rouge intense et très extrait. Nez puissant et floral. Arômes de petits fruits rouges, de bleuets et de fleurs. Bouche qui suit le nez. Tannins souples, texture onctueuse, saine acidité.
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1/1/2013 - Cyberpana wrote: 82 Points
Aroma and taste quite rough. Probably a good wine in 2 or 4 more years. It has potential.
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12/27/2012 - GoBlue2002 wrote: 89 Points
Powerful aromas of currant, raspberry, cherry, and plum. The tannins are somewhat harsh at this stage and the flavor is not as developed, but this is still a relatively easy drinking wine with a longer finish.
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12/22/2012 - eldiabloazul Likes this wine: 87 Points
solid
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11/23/2012 - lifeattable wrote:
Quick decant and started drinking. Good balance, good acidity. Some savory notes. Would be better with a longer decant. Will rate next time.
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11/20/2012 - Rktekt3 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very good malbec for the price.
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11/14/2012 - affordableCollector Likes this wine: 87 Points
raspberry, blackberry and cherry on the nose. cherry, flint, pasture flowers, spice on the palate. tannins are big on this finish.
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11/13/2012 - french16 wrote:
Nice typical nose for the Achaval malbec: savory edge with an almost meat juice note. Blue fruit with a touch of cherry. Full body but avoid any heaviness, supple, similar to the nose but with also a blood orange note and a acidity like. Hint of plum.
As always, a very good malbec.
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11/3/2012 - davestenton wrote:
The Wine Gang (London): Plum, spice and tobacco aromas. Then a lovely fresh palate. Complex too. Benchmark Malbec and decent value. 17/20.
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11/3/2012 - cstir wrote: 88 Points
Tight, edgy flavor with little change in 2 hours; I did not find the fruit very expressive; limited finish; may do better with time in the bottle.
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10/20/2012 - Life At Your Leisure 🍷 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Full-bodied, round and creamy texture with flavors of blueberry, blackberry, raspberry, sunflowers, and cola. Has a lot of ripeness without going jammy that leads to an elegant finish. Great value for an everyday wine. This will pair very well with barbequed dishes.
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10/12/2012 - Timbalimba wrote: 83 Points
Concentrated purple. Oaky, deep and mature nose, difficult to grasp this is only 18 months old. Some violet and tobacco perfume, no sign of malo, but a Port-like old oak kirsch stew aroma that you wouldn't normally associate with Malbec. Big tannins and acids in the mouth, ripe fruits. Slightly sharp on the finish. Questionable value. This wine has a ripasso-like aspect that I don't agree with and don't ever want to see in good Mendoza Malbec.
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9/27/2012 - KatieSchon wrote: 89 Points
Jammy and well rounded. Enjoyed without food but would have been better with a deep Italian red sauce or ragu.
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9/26/2012 - MuseMaven wrote:
No specific notes. Very strong nose of licorice and mint. Strong flavors, good finish. Enjoyable on its own, but really excellent with gorgonzola. Would be especially nice with an Italian meal/tomato sauce/pizza. Overall, the 2010 was a more characteristic Malbec, but I enjoyed this wine. Good QPR.
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9/20/2012 - jnanz wrote: flawed
Partially corked
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9/9/2012 - Outplaying wrote:
Ripe and juicy but pretty well balanced. Pretty solid.
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8/31/2012 - quanmeister wrote: 91 Points
Well balanced. Not over the top argentinian malbec. Drinking well now. Not sure how long it will hold.
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8/13/2012 - Marcharlan wrote: 91 Points
Smooth on opening and full bodied
Did not change much without time. Enjoyable and good value.
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8/13/2012 - BadOyster wrote: 87 Points
sadly aggressive/tight/bitterly concentrated fruit. i hope the next bottle is better ... maybe it needs to be decanted to open up?
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8/2/2012 - vsbastosx wrote: 88 Points
Bought at the restaurant. Very floral on the nose with hints of liquorice. On the palate, this is full bodied and balanced. Good wine.
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8/1/2012 - OTTnMIA wrote: 84 Points
I really like Achaval-Ferrer's Quimera blend and was excited to try this Malbec after reading Wine Spectator's glowing review as a "best value"... having now done so, I don't know where that review came from! I found this to be overly light, tart and completely lacking in almost all of the qualities I like in Malbec (and I drink Malbec often). Even the floral note which WS commented on, though definitely apparent, was off-putting and bitter. And worst of all, it had the presence of that "cheap red" flavor I so despise in some wines. Wow, VERY dissapointing experience with a greatly overly-praised wine, in my opinion. There are Malbecs at this price or even a few bucks lower that blow this away!
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7/24/2012 - Adventr.us wrote: 90 Points
Yum, I agree with the previous reviewer who suggested this is a transitional/intro Malbec for Syrah lovers. That's a great description.
Very nice on first sip from the pop-n-pour; moderate to soft tannins, some jammy fruits emerging, well integrated, nicely balanced ... good midweek with a meal, or around the campfire on the weekend. Suddenly, I'm wishing I'd bought more.
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3/24/2012 - Personal Opinion wrote:
Juicy, concentrated blackberry juice, with overtones of pepper, spice and mineral... Medium-medium-plus body.... dusty tannins.. reminiscent of some Syrahs... a good transition to Malbec for Syrah lovers... Consistently a recommendable, must try, Argentinian Malbec...
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