Zuccardi Q Malbec 2020 (Argentina) - Wine Review

After enjoying the lovely 2019 Zuccardi Q Malbec last summer, tonight's red wine review is the latest vintage of this consistently well-made Malbec that arrived at the LCBO last weekend as part of the March 19 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Zuccardi Wines was founded by Alberto Zuccardi in 1963 in Maipú, Mendoza, with a strong visionary and innovative spirit. With winemaker Sebastián Zuccardi, the third generation of the family continues its strong tradition and lead the development of the new stage of the winery, including a dedicated area within the winery for Research and Development to study of the terroir and the different variables that affect wine production. Today, Sebastián is globally recognized as an ambassador for Argentina's unique terroirs, most notably in the high elevation Uco Valley in Southern Mendoza. The goal is to produce wines with identity through the different terroirs in a sustainable manner. Zuccardi Valle de Uco has been named Best Vineyard in the World for the last three consecutive years.

This Malbec is from Zuccardi's "Q" range of regional wines that began as a project in 1999 when they marked the best vineyards and plots with the letter "Q" for Quality. These designated vineyards and plots are given extra care and attention during growing and vinification process in order to produce wines of exceptional quality.

Once again, this 100% Malbec is comprised of grapes grown in the IG Paraje Altamira (San Carlos) at 1,100 metres (3,600 feet) above sea level, and in IG Los Chacayes (Tunuyán) at at 1,000 metres (3,200 feet) above sea level. Both of these regions are situated in the Uco Valley, and although the percentage of grapes from each IG was not specified, Paraje Altamira grapes typically dominate the blend.

In Paraje Altamira, the very heterogeneous soils originated in the alluvial fan of the Tunuyán river, in its upper zone. The sandy loam surface has medium and large gravels and at variable depths, with abundant calcareous material throughout. In Los Chacayes, the soils originated in a series of super-imposed alluvial fans from the middle of the Uco Valley. The very heterogeneous soils are normally sandy loam with moderately eroded strata of small stones, with occasional coverage of calcium carbonate or gypsum.

The exceptional 2020 vintage was characterized by limited yields and the surprisingly high speed of maturity. Combined with the pandemic, this really fast vintage was one of their most challenging ever. However, the grapes arrived at the winery healthy and in high quality, generally showing excellent aromatic complexity and a lot of juiciness, texture and structure in the mouth. The grapes were selected by cluster, filled by gravity, and fermented in concrete vessels using native yeasts. Like previous vintages, it was aged in a combination of concrete and used 500 L unroasted French oak barrels. Let's see how this Uco Valley Malbec is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

ZUCCARDI Q MALBEC 2020 - Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#723478) (XD) - $20.95
From grapes grown at high-altitudes in Paraje Altamira (San Carlos) and Los Chacayes (Tunuyán), this 100% Malbec has a fragrant, medium-high intensity nose that is stony with dark berry, and purple fruit aromas with subtle dark cherry, dried herb, and spice. The lovely stony notes continue on the dry, medium+ bodied palate with dark berry, purple fruit, spice, and plum flavours, all of which are supported by fresh, well-balanced acidity and refined, dusty textured tannins. Stony notes linger on the long, crisp, and balanced finish. Recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

There are many fine Zuccardi wines available at the LCBO, including the 2021 Zuccardi Serie A Torrontés I enjoyed last the weekend, while other wines not found at the LCBO can be ordered through their Agent - The Bacchus Group.

Read More

Château Maucoil 2019 (Rhône) - Wine Review

I enjoyed the organic 2016 Château Maucoil when it arrived at the LCBO three years ago and for tonight's red wine review I am delighted to bring you the latest vintage of this lovely red wine that came to shelves across Ontario on the weekend as part of the LCBO VINTAGES Release on March 19.

Château Maucoil (pronounced "moh-kwahl") is an historic property located on northwestern edge of Châteauneuf-du-Pape in the southern Rhône Valley with over 400 years of history and ancient documents stating that its first occupants were Romans that set up a base there for Caesar's legions. Winegrowing activities on the site began in the 17th century, with several families owning the estate over time. Some plots were planted in 1895 and still exist today!

In 1995, the Arnaud family, who already owned vines in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, purchased the estate and devoted great energy and passion. In 2009, the Arnauds' youngest daughter, Bénédicte, and her husband, Charles Bonnet, took up the torch to secure the future of the estate and manage it in an environmentally-responsible manner, becoming fully certified organic in 2014. After working with Maison LAVAU for several years, Château Maucoil partnered with Lavau brothers in 2013 and today the four run the estate together.

This organic red wine is crafted using a traditional southern Rhône blend of mainly Grenache with Syrah and Mourvèdre in support. However, it is unique in that the grapes come vineyards near Châteauneuf-du-Pape and with similar soils consisting of a mixture of sand and pebbles. From old vines, the grapes in this Côtes du Rhône-Villages yield great concentration and loads of character. The grapes were hand-harvested and transported to the cellar in 15 kg perforated crates, then sorted berry-by-berry before going into vat. Each grape variety and parcel was vinified separately. After fermentation, the wines were drawn off and aged in vats until bottling.

While the 2016 vintage in the southern Rhône was a truly rare, benchmark vintage, the 2019 vintage was no slouch with a wet winter setting the table for the region's vineyards to get through the hot, dry growing season. Grenache and Mourvèdre excelled during the long growing season to produce rich, ripe, and expressive red wines with refined textures. Overall, 2019 was a gorgeous vintage that only falls short when compared to truly elite years. Let's see how this 2019 Côtes du Rhône-Villages is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CHÂTEAU MAUCOIL 2019 - AC Côtes du Rhône-Villages, France (#638502) (XD) - $19.95
A blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre, the lovely medium-high intensity nose is rich, spicy, meaty, and dark berry scented with ripe cherry, cassis, and whiffs of mineral arriving with time in the glass. On the dry, medium to medium-full bodied palate it has lovely spicy, black cherry, cassis, meaty, stony mineral flavours with touches of plum. It has clean, fresh acidity, nice structure, and slightly chalky tannins. Really well-balanced and elegant with lovely savoury mineral notes lingering on the long finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

Other lovely wines by Château Maucoil can be ordered through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

Read More

Zuccardi Serie A Torrontés 2021 (Argentina) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is this lovely Torrontés from the very high-altitude province of Salta in northern Argentina. A frequent visitor here in Ontario. this latest vintage arrived on shelves today as part of the March 19th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by Familia Zuccardi and led today by the third generation of the family, winemaker Sebastian Zuccardi. Founded in 1963 when Sebastian's grandfather planted his first vines in Maipú, Mendoza, the Zuccardi family has kept growing and developing to become a leader in Argentine production. Sebastian inherited his father's determination and desire to strive for excellence and is globally recognized as an ambassador for Argentina's unique terroirs, most notably in the high elevation Uco Valley in southern Mendoza. The family's premium winery - Zuccardi Valle de Uco - has been named Best Vineyard in the World for three consecutive years - 2019, 2020, and 2021.

Zuccardi has several ranges of wines and this white wine is from their entry-level Serie A collection that features single varietal and distinct blends from selected vineyards located in the best parts of Mendoza and across Argentina. The Zuccardi Serie A range highlights the richness and diversity of the different micro-climates and soils of Argentina. The name "Serie A" comes from "Argentina Series" and is a way of expressing the most representative varieties from the best regions for each varietal and from selected vineyards along the Andes Mountains. In the winery, each batch is harvested separately at different times with the goal of achieving elegance and excellence in each wine.

Torrontés is Argentina's most widely planted white variety with more than 24,000 acres planted, representing 27% of all white wine varietals. Although most Torrontés is grown in Mendoza, a significant percentage (and the most interesting examples) are grown in the remote, northern province of Salta. Native to Argentina, DNA analysis shows that Torrontés formed after the spontaneous crossing of varietals Listán Prieto and Moscatel de Alexandria in Mendoza in the middle of the 18th century. Today, Torrontés Riojano is the most cultivated of the three varieties of Torrontés as it expresses the best qualities for fine wine production. Although it's original home is in Mendoza, Torrontés has found its true home to the north in the valleys of Rioja and Salta. Torrontés takes a long time to develop and ripen, thus benefitting from the long, northern summer, while the blazing sun at altitudes between 1,500 and 1,900 metres helps it develop concentration. Grown in rich clay soils, Torrontés tends to take longer to ripen, but preserves its volume and acidity, whereas Torrontés grown in sandier soils ripens faster and achieves good aromatic expression.

According to the tech sheet, the grapes for this Torrontés were grown in Cafayate, within the province of Salta, at the very high altitude of 1,800 metres (5900 feet) above sea level. The grapes were manually harvested and selected, followed by de-stemming and pressing. It was fermented with native yeasts and aged on its lees for 6 months.

Although the print edition of the VINTAGES catalogue specifies the 2020 vintage, it is, in fact, the 2021 vintage that arrived in stores. Let's see how this 2021 Torrontés is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

ZUCCARDI SERIE A TORRONTÉS 2021 - IP Salta, Argentina (#389262) (XD) - $17.95
Screw cap. The perfumed nose offers medium-high intensity aromatics of muscat characters with lychee, ripe lemon citrus, and floral notes joining the fray. The impressively concentrated, medium-full bodied palate is dry with ripe lemon citrus, muscat, floral, and leesy flavours with touches of herbal. Nicely textured mouthfeel with juicy acidity. Leesy mineral with lemon citrus notes linger on the long finish. Chill well and enjoy this recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

Other delicious wines by Zuccardi are available at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - The Bacchus Group.

Read More

La Posta Fazzio Malbec 2019 (Argentina) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is this lovely Malbec that arrives at the LCBO this weekend in the March 19th LCBO VINTAGES Release after a half a dozen year hiatus from our shelves.

It is produced by La Posta Vineyards, the entry-level brand of the Catena family of wines. La Posta Vineyards was formed in 2000 after Laura Catena discovered a handful of growers who consistently showed impressive results with specific varietals year-after-year. La Posta wines salute these hard-working growers who strive for superior flavours from grapes they grow on their own estate, and often single vineyard bottlings. Each La Posta label illustrates a story of these individual families and are inspired by Art Nouveau and Art Déco designs of the 1920s and 1930s.

This Malbec is from the Fazzio family. Salvador Fazzio arrived in Argentina from Sicily in 1917 in the search for a better life. His son, Francisco Fazzio, got married in Mendoza and had three children, and in 1955 he purchased 15 hectares of land in Tupungato to dedicate himself to viticulture. Today, Domingo Fazzio is the third generation of family to run the business and expanded by purchasing more land in Tupungato. In 2005, Domingo bought a 100-hecatre vineyard in the area of Agua Amarga, Tupungato and named the property "El Nono Francisco" to honour his father. Domingo Fazzio, a dancing farmer who loves the ladies, also loves working the soil invites you to rest at the edge of the vineyard to find inspiration and leave inspired by an "old man" to Never Slow Down.

This particular Malbec is from the El Nono Francisco property, a vineyard located in a very privileged area at 1,100 metres (3,608 feet) elevation that borders las Tunas River where they get water to irrigate the land. Local ancient people told stores of a big Indian settlement that used to inhabit this land more than 150 years ago, and when the Fazzio family began working this land, they discovered archaeological remains which showed evidence of this settlement. The vineyard was planted in 2003 and the soil is composed of medium deep loamy soils, with calcareous stony subsoils - soils which are good for roots development and drain well. In the winery, half the wine was aged in second use French oak barrels, while the other half was aged in stainless steel tanks.

Tasting Note:

LA POSTA FAZZIO MALBEC 2019 - Tupungato, Mendoza, Argentina (#444687) (XD) - $19.95
Grown at 1,100 metres above sea level, this Malbec has a spicy, medium-high intensity nose that reveals lovely ripe black fruits, blackberry, and violet aromas with hints of stony mineral and a touch of dried herb. On the plush, medium-full bodied palate it is impressively concentrated with ripe black fruits, blackberry, violet, and stony mineral flavours wrapped by smooth, refined, and velvety tannins. Fresh, juicy acidity takes you through to the long, well-balanced, stony, dark berry, and cocoa-tinged finish. Quite impressed by this. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

Other lovely wines from La Posta are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

Read More

March 19, 2022 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Cabernet Sauvignon

The main theme of the March 19, 2022 LCBO VINTAGES Release is yet another mono-themed release and focuses on wines made using Cabernet Sauvignon. There's also a number of Online Exclusive (OE) wines as part of this release and will be available for purchase exclusively on lcbo.com a couple of days prior to release day. In-store wines should be available across the province by Saturday.

Titled "The ABCs of CABs", we begin with the theme on wines made with Cabernet Sauvignon. This noble red grape varietal is considered the "King of Grapes" due to its bold and ageable character. The grape is treasured and celebrated in Bordeaux's iconic blends of the Left Bank, but has also found a home in many other wine regions around the globe. Of the sixteen wines listed as part of the theme, only a Cabernet Sauvignon from McLaren Vale in Australia is among my top wine picks.

Red wine options from the rest of the release are aplenty. Starting in Rhône, there is a lovely Châteauneuf-du-Pape that is a blend of 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 6% Mourvèdre, and 4% Cinsault, while the Lirac consists of 55% Grenache, 15% Cinsault, 15% Syrah, 10% Carignan, and 5% Mourvèdre. Also from Rhône, the Crozes-Hermitage is 100% Syrah, while the Côtes du Rhône-Villages is a blend of roughly 50% Grenache, 25% Syrah, and 25% Carignan. From Italy, the Gran Selezione Chianti Classico consists of 80% Sangiovese and the rest Merlot and Colorino, while the Barolo is, of course, made with Nebbiolo. Other blends include a Madiran that is mostly Tannat plus Cabernet Franc completing the blend, as well as a Douro red that consists of roughly equal parts Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca, and Tinta Barroca.

All of my white wine picks are single varietal wines. There are a pair of lovely Torrontés wines from Argentina - one is unoaked, while the other is barrel fermented and aged in French oak barrels. From Italy there is a Pinot Grigio from the northeastern part of the country in Friuli, while the Pecorino is from Abruzzo in central Italy. On the local front, there is a fine Chardonnay that is available only as an Online Exclusive, as well as its mutated variant, the unique and aromatic Chardonnay Musqué. Other recommendations include an Albariño from Spain, a Chenin Blanc from South Africa, and a Semillon from Hunter Valley.

Enjoy my wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• CRASTO 2019 - DOC Douro, Portugal (#81588) (XD) - $18.95  89 pts  wine review
• MITOLO JESTER CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#43224) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• LA POSTA FAZZIO MALBEC 2019 - Tupungato, Mendoza, Argentina (#444687) (XD) - $19.95  90 pts  wine review
• SUTHERLAND PINOT NOIR 2019 - WO Elgin, South Africa (#624924) (XD) - $19.95
• MONTGRAS AMARAL SYRAH 2019 - Sustainable, DO Valle de Leyda, Chile (#21958) (XD) - $19.95
• CHÂTEAU MAUCOIL 2019 - AC Côtes du Rhône-Villages, France (#638502) {XD) - $19.95  90 pts  wine review
• ZUCCARDI Q MALBEC 2020 - Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#723478) (XD) - $20.95  89 pts  wine review

 

• CHÂTEAU PEYROS VIEILLES VIGNES MADIRAN 2017 - AC, Southwest, France (#234997) (XD) - $22.95
• FERRATON PÈRE & FILS LA MATINIÈRE CROZES-HERMITAGE 2018 - AP, Rhône, France (#127712) (XD) - $28.95  OE
• CHÂTEAU DE MONTFAUCON BARON LOUIS LIRAC 2015 - AP, Rhône, France (#13438) (XD) - $32.95  91 pts  wine review
• DOMAINE DROUHIN OREGON PINOT NOIR 2019 - Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA (#11263) (XD) - $42.95  OE
• RUFFINO RISERVA DUCALE ORO GRAN SELEZIONE CHIANTI CLASSICO 2017 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#353201) (XD) - $49.95  92 pts  wine review
• DOMAINE DU VIEUX TÉLÉGRAPHE TÉLÉGRAMME CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2019 - AC, Rhône, France (#292722) (XD) - $59.95
• BORGOGNO BAROLO 2016 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#283499) (XD) - $65.95  OE
  

White Wine:

• RUSTENBERG STELLENBOSCH CHENIN BLANC 2019 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#698274) (XD) - $14.95
• ZUCCARDI SERIE A TORRONTÉS 2021 - IP Salta, Argentina (#389262) (XD) - $17.95  89 pts  wine review
• FERZO ABRUZZO PECORINO SUPERIORE 2020 - DOP, Abruzzo, Italy (#573683) (XD) - $18.95  89 pts  wine review
• CAVE SPRING ESTATE CHARDONNAY MUSQUÉ 2020 - Sustainable, Cave Spring Vineyard, VOA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#246579) (XD) - $19.95
• ATTEMS PINOT GRIGIO 2020 - DOC Friuli, Italy (#707950) (XD) - $19.95
• SUSANA BALBO SIGNATURE BARREL FERMENTED TORRONTÉS 2020 - Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#384339) (XD) - $21.95
• PAZO DAS BRUXAS ALBARIÑO 2019 - DO Rias Baixas, Spain (#417667) (XD) - $21.95
• TYRRELL'S HUNTER VALLEY SERIES SEMILLON 2019 - Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia (#632034) (XD) - $24.95
• BACHELDER LES VILLAGES CHARDONNAY 2018 - VOA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#16059) (XD) - $34.95  OE
  

Fortified:

• FONSECA LATE BOTTLED VINTAGE PORT 2015 - Unfiltered, DOP, Portugal (#87551) (S) - $23.95

Read More

Mitolo Jester Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 (McLaren Vale) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from McLaren Vale. A frequent visitor to the LCBO for many years now. I recall enjoying 2008 vintage of this wine back in 2010, while the latest vintage should be arriving on shelves across Ontario this weekend as part of the March 19 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Originally from Abruzzo with a viticultural ancestry, the Mitolo family moved to Australia in the 1950s to become successful market gardeners. After years of working in his family's potato business, Frank Mitolo started making wine for family and friends. In 1999, after a legendary 5-hour discussion with winemaker Ben Glaetzer, the pair fashioned a dream of making the ultimate expression of McLaren Vale's rich provenance of soils. Mitolo Wines was formed with a six word business plan on the back of a napkin: individuality, integrity, quality, purity, elegance and power, and the first wine was a 2000 G.A.M. Shiraz that was named in honour of Frank's children Gemma, Alex, and Marco. Ben is part of the well-known Glaetzer family that has a long lineage of viticulture and winemaking within the Barossa Valley, and uses a hands-off approach in the winery, while also working closely with the growers of Mitolo wines - the Lopresti family.

Mitolo works closely with its growers, the Lopresti family, who are also from Italy and old friends of the Mitolo family. Don Lopresti, a Calabrian, started planting his vineyards in the coastal Aldinga McLaren Vale in 1975. Today, Don works closely with his sons Joe and Michael to fastidiously maintain the 200 acres of vineyards to produce the style Mitolo is renowned for. The Lopresti vineyards are sandwiched between the Gulf St Vincent and the nearby Willunga Hills, known as the Clay Plains of Aldinga, where the soils are of heavy, grey loams mixed with black 'Biscay' clay overlying ancient Ngaltinga formation that was formed one million years ago in the Pleistocene age. Winter rains soak deep into the clay and hold the moisture deep in the soil, and when the soils have dried out, the ensuing cracks create positive stress on the vines as they strive for energy and concentrating fruit flavours.

This Cabernet Sauvignon is from Mitolo's Jester range of wines. The Jesters of the Courts of Europe had one motivation - to entertain the household of a nobleman and their guests. A modern entertainer, the Jester is able to excite, tell stories at any dinner table, and are the life of the party. Ultimately, the Jesters - and these wines - are there to remind us not to take life too seriously.

Crafted with 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% of the fruit was dried on racks for approximately 7-8 weeks in the Italian Appassimento style. From vineyards located at the southern end of McLaren Vale on heavy clay soils, close to the seaside town of Aldinga, the combination of cool sea breezes and gully winds provide the ideal conditions for growing powerful fruit with intensity and balance. Yields were down compared to the 2017 vintage, but quality was exceptional. Let's see how this 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon from McLaren Vale is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

MITOLO JESTER CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#43224) (XD) - $19.95
100% Cabernet Sauvignon with 20% of the grapes dried in the Appassimento style. Screw cap. The medium+ intensity nose has ripe black currant, and cassis aromas joined by spices, mocha chocolate, dried herbs, and whiffs of crushed rock. On the dry, medium to medium-full bodied palate it has fresh, juicy acidity that supports the ripe black currant, dark cherry, mocha chocolate, and dried herbal flavours with a slightly tangy mid-palate. Textured tannins have a supple grip. Savoury, earthy, and mocha chocolate notes linger on the fresh finish, with very good length. A bit of a crowd pleaser, a joy to sip. Recommended buy. Score: 89 pts

Other delicious wines by Mitolo are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

Read More

Catena Paraje Altamira Malbec 2018 (Argentina) - Wine Review

I first came across this lovely, high-altitude, single vineyard Malbec from Paraje Altamira, Argentina, at the LCBO lab three years ago and have been enamoured with this wine ever since. For tonight's red wine review, I bring you the latest vintage of this terrific wine that arrived at the LCBO last weekend as part of the March 5 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Founded by the Catena family in 1902, Catena Zapata is one of Argentina's most internationally renowned and celebrated wineries. Recognized for it's pioneering role in high-altitude viticulture, Catena is also responsible for introducing the world to premium quality Malbec. Now in its fourth generation, the winery is led by Dr. Laura Catena, who has spearheaded significant terroir research in pursuit of her family's dream to produce Argentina's "Premier Crus." In February 2021, The Catena Institute of Wine published a research study that proved irrefutably the existence of terroir and its persistence across vintages for Malbec wines.

Like other Catena wines I've enjoyed over the years, this Malbec is from Catena's Appellation range of wines which follow Burgundy's pattern of where the village the grapes are grown lends their name to the appellation. In Argentina, the rural towns of Lunlunta, Vista Flores, San Carlos, Tupungato, Agrelo, and La Consulta lend their names to the beautiful historic vineyards that surround them and proudly displayed on the label for each of Catena's wines in this range. In France, the village vineyards are small and often owned by siblings and cousins within the same family due to the Napoleonic code which establishes that at a person's death, his or her land is divided equally among his or her heirs. Being a Latin country, Argentina also shares the Napoleonic code, and over half of the vineyards in Mendoza are less than four hectares in size and owned by multiple family members. The Catena range of "Village" wines express the diversity of terroir and the historic farming customs of these local families.

The history of this wine can be traced back to the 1950s when Don Domingo Catena began sourcing Malbec from the vineyards of Altamira in the Uco Valley. Today, this wine is from the Altamira Vineyard located at 1,095 metres (3,593 feet) elevation on alluvial origin soils which are loamy with rounded rocks on the bottom, and a composition of 80% sand, 10% clay, and 10% silt. At these high elevations, the combination of intense sunlight and cool nights help produce an elegant, minerally, and slightly spicy Malbec with a deep texture and flavours. From the excellent 2018 vintage, let's see how this Paraje Altamira Malbec is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CATENA PARAJE ALTAMIRA MALBEC 2018 - Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina (#492413) (XD) - $22.95
100% Malbec that was grown in Paraje Altamira at 1,095 metres (3,593 feet) above sea level, it was aged for 12 months in mostly used French oak. The fresh, intense nose has lovely ripe black and purple fruits balanced with savoury stony-earthy mineral aromas and touches of herbal spice adding complexity. On the dry, medium-full bodied palate it is rich and nicely structured with spicy, dark berry, violet, currant, stony-earthy minerals, and some herbal notes on the complex flavour profile. Fresh acids are well-balanced, while the structured, refined tannins have a pleasantly and lightly chalky grip. Minerally with black cherry, currant, and violet accents lingering on the juicy finish, with excellent length. Highly recommended buy! Score: 91 pts

Other lovely wines from Catena Zapata are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

Read More