2010 Achaval-Ferrer - Malbec Mendoza
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Tasting notes
Medium red-ruby. Blueberry, blackberry, menthol and bitter chocolate on the nose. Juicy, intense and fine-grained, with a restrained sweetness and enticing peppery lift to the flavors of dark berries, violet, licorice and game. This reminded me in weight and flavor of a Saint-Joseph. Finishes with a fine dusting of tannins and good savory persistence.
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Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Jay S Miller, Wine Advocate
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The 2010 Malbec was sourced from three vineyards, two of which are 66 and 86 years of age, with the wine aged for 9 months in French oak. It is a super-fragrant offering featuring racy red fruits, spice box, incense, and floral notes. Pure, sweetly-fruited, and elegant in the glass, this intense, lengthy Malbec can be approached now and over the next 6-8 years. Achaval-Ferrer, under the direction of CEO Santiago Achaval and winemaker Roberto Cipresso, stands at the summit of Argentina wine producers. The benchmark Finca bottlings are limited (under 1000 cases produced of each) so the best way to discover the pleasures of Achaval-Ferrer are through the entry-level Malbec of which there are 12,000 cases. Achaval-Ferrer is about to launch a new cuvee called Tempous, a blend of the three single vineyards. There are only 75 cases (3 barrels) produced of each vintage, so fans of the winery, be prepared to go to war to get your hands on a few bottles. The wines are fermented with indigenous yeasts, aged for 18 months in new French oak, and bottled without fining or filtration. Importer: TGIC Imports, Woodland Hills, CA; tel. (818) 225-5100