2011 Yacochuya

The flagship wine here, and one that is usually controversial as it divides people--some hate it, some love it--is the 2011 Yacochuya. This is a super concentrated, super ripe and super oaky Malbec from vines planted in 1913 in Cafayate, hitting the scales at 15.8% alcohol with lowish acidity and almost five grams of residual sugar. The nose is a blast from the past, in the style of the end of the 1990s, with plenty of earthy, smoky and oaky aromas over a core of fruit flirting with over-ripeness. The palate is full-bodied, with huge concentration and masses of tannin, ending slightly bitter. This is one for the proverbial T-Rex T-Bone Steak! Very good in its particular style, but a bit of a dinosaur from a bygone era. It has a warm finish. 17,000 bottles produced.