Mendoza Wine

Winemaker Description

Alamos Malbec offers layers of dark cherry and blackberry and a velvety mouthfeel. Aromas of violet intertwine with spice and vanilla, while balanced tannins create a velvety mouthfeel and expansive finish. This Malbec delivers a complex fine red wine that pairs beautifully with a wide range of cuisine and goes beyond the expected. 

Critic Notes

Wine Advocate by Luis Gutierrez writes 90 Points | The fruit-driven, light and fresh 2022 Malbec is young and vibrant with a bright ruby color and a nose of red berries and violets, which is attractive. It's juicy and tasty, with a serious dry finish.

 
James Suckling 91 Points | Zekun Shuai writes:  A juicy malbec with hints of baked plums, cherries and a fine twist of spices. A hint of geraniums, too. Medium-bodied on the palate with well-grained tannins and a juicy finish. Drink now.

Winemaker Description

This vintage of our Malbec Clásico is fully representative of Altos Las Hormigas style, as the joyful and fresh expression of Mendoza Malbec. Displaying a bright ruby red color, this wine has a fruity nose of plums and raspberries complemented with herbal notes. 

The first palate shows supple tannins with a balanced acidity that is the secret of its freshness. Notes of crisp red fruits fill the mouth, with a soft texture and a long finish. This is a pleasant wine, ideal to pair with various dishes, from red meats to pasta or grilled vegetables. 

Ratings:

Joaquin Hidalgo writes:  The 2021 Malbec Clásico Made with Organic Grapes is 75% from Luján de Cuyo and 25% from the Uco Valley. A mild purple color. The bold aromas feature plum and notes of spice, herbs and mint. On the palate, it has good grip and acidity with a degree of structure and moderate fat. A juicy, flavorful wine.  Drinking 2022 - 2028.  - Vinous 90

James Suckling writes:  This shows notes of cherries and red plums with hints of sweet spices and stone. Medium-bodied and textural with a mineral backbone and vivid red fruit. Dusty tannins and a polished finish. An easy and smooth malbec that shows freshness and poise. Drink now.  - James Suckling 91

Amanda Barnes, Dirceu Vianna Junior MW, Madeleine Stenwreth MW write:  Remarkably juicy and alluring. Subtle and sophisticated, boasting ripe dark fruits, spices, and dark chocolate. Pure, precise, with excellent concentration, fine tannins, and refreshing energy.  - Decanter 91

Winemaker Notes

Catena Malbec presents a deep violet color with purple reflections. This microclimate blend of four unique vineyards offers intense aromas, soft texture, and concentrated flavor. Deep aromas of ripe red and dark fruits are joined by delicate violet and lavender notes, with traces of vanilla and mocha.

A rich, concentrated mouthfeel is highlighted by flavors of blueberries and blackberries with a touch of leather and cinnamon. The wine has well-integrated tannins, bright acidity, and a flinty minerality that provides exceptional length to the finish.

Pair with roast turkey, grilled steak, salmon, and pasta. 

Expert Ratings 

Wine Advocate 92 Points:  The 2021 Q Malbec comes from Altamira and Chacayes and was made with a significant part of full clusters (especially Altamira) and aged mostly in concrete to keep that sense of purity. It has notes of some blue fruit, aromatic herbs and a citrus twist, reminiscent of green tea. It is floral, expressive, perfumed and fine-boned, with a medium-bodied palate where the tannins are fine and there's some grip. 500,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in February 2022. — Luis Gutiérrez Rating: 

92+James Suckling 93 Points:  A spicy malbec with a touch of fine herbs, oyster sauce and dark minerals to the fresh blueberries. A very fresh and nicely chewy expression of malbec with a medium to full body on the palate. Tannins are tight, fresh and grained. Mostly from Paraje Altamira and Los Chacayes. Try in 2025.

Wine & Spirits Magazine 93 Points:  A selection from vineyards in Vista Flores and La Consulta, this wine is fun and zesty, focusing on malbec’s fresher side with wild blueberry flavors and violet scents. The snappy herbal pop in the tannins suggest vertically-integrated complexity, from purposeful harvest to Zuccardi’s light-handed vinification.

Winemaker Description

The textbook definition of Malbec in a very good vintage. Bright violet in color, this wine is fresh and floral, featuring blackberry, plums and violets on the nose and palate. The wine is soft and round with a noticeable minerality, silky tannins mark a lengthy finish. Low yields, careful vineyard management and low intervention winemaking are the hallmark of this wine. 

Expert Rating

92 Points James Suckling | Racy strawberries, morello cherries and haw fruit. Some cinnamon and cloves, too. Medium-to full-bodied with some white pepper and green olives. Solid, fine-grained tannins.

Winemaker Description

Bright red color with intense violet hues. Fresh nose of violets and rich plum marmalade laced with chocolate and vanilla oak flavors. A soft, sweet entry leads to a well-structured and long, persistent wine. Round, silky tannins.

Pair this Malbec + Syrah with a meat dish that mirrors its tangy berry flavors like cranberry pot roast or roast duck with sour cherry sauce.

Winemaker Description

El Esteco Don David Malbec Reserve is vibrant and bright. Pleasant color intensity, young. The nose is reminiscent of plum jam and raisins, with notes of chocolate and mild and balanced oak. Reminiscent of plum jam and raisins, with notes of chocolate and mild and balanced oak. 

Winemaker Description

This hand harvested, 100% Malbec wine is from multiple vineyards in the Uco Valley. The wine predominantly shows notes of coffee, blueberry, and chocolate with secondary notes of licorice, black cherry, cinnamon, baking spices, and sage. The complexity of the wine extends into the palate by being big and bold without being flabby, with smooth tannins and light acidity. The wine finishes extremely strong with plum, cassis, doughnut cake, and fine silky tannins. A wine that out delivers it’s price by tenfold! 

Expert Rating

James Suckling 90 points | A soft, creamy malbec that’s rather reserved and fine with dark fruit and a citrus undertone. Medium finish. Drink now. 

Winemaker Notes

Bright and deep red color with purple tones. Aromas of black fruit reminiscent of fresh plum mixed with blueberries and a hint of flowers. On the palate the wine is balanced, medium-bodied with a good fresh acidity.

Critics notes

Joaquin Hidalgo writes:  The 2022 Malbec Felino is 55% from the Uco Valley and 45% from Lujan de Cuyo. Only 7% of the wine was aged for up to six months in barrels. The 2022 has a rich, purple hue. The nose features dark and red fruit, including blackberry, plum and floral and jammy notes. The palate is creamy and expansive, with a juicy, fresh character and plenty of flavors before the lasting, plush, fruity finish.  - Vinous 91

James Suckling writes:he bright berry and lead pencil aromas and flavors come through with an iron shaving undertone. Boysenberry. Juicy finish. Fantastic value for the quality. Drink or hold.  - James Suckling 93

Aaron Romano writes:  A rich and almost hedonistic style, this opens with roasted coffee notes and is brimming with ripe berry fruit, ending with fine tannins and herb details. Drink now.  - Wine Spectator 

Expert Reviews

Dorothy & Bernie of 67Wine.com | We visited the Mendel winery on one of our first visits to Mendoza about 18 years ago.  The winery was introduced to us by our friend Paulo Costa, who was then President of Novartis Pharmaceuticals.  Mendel Winery was started by a well known Buenos Aires pharmaceutical family with Roberto de la Mota, known as one of Argentina’s greatest wine makers. The Mendels began the winery with the intent of making great wines that were more refined than what was found in Mendoza.  We fell in love with their Cabernet which was powerful, yet not overwhelming.  We still find it one of the best, most accessible and harmonious Cabernets made in Mendoza.   Dorothy & Bernie “Follow the Drinker”

James Suckling 94 Points | Notes of ripe blackcurrants, blackberries, vanilla, walnuts and dark chocolate. Medium-to full-bodied with robust, polished tannins and bright acidity. Dense and creamy texture, together with bright, delicious fruit, ending with a spicy edge and notes of crushed stones. Try now, but better after 2023. 

Expert Review

James Suckling 92 Points | Aromas of currants, sweet tobacco and oyster shell follow through to a medium to full body with firm, creamy tannins and a steely finish. Drink after 2021.

Expert Review - Vintage 2021

Joaquin Hidalgo of Vinous writes 93 Points | The 2021 Monastrell hails from Los Chacayes in the Uco Valley and was all fermented in whole bunches before spending six months in concrete eggs. Garnet-red in hue. The nose presents aromas ranging from chocolate to dried flowers and watermelon to herbs. The palate is dry and grippy. Well-balanced acidity complements the vibrant tannins, resulting in a lean, compact mouthfeel. The 2021 is a long-lasting red for aficionados.  Drinking 2023 to 2031.

Expert Rating

92 Points James Suckling | A generous and fruity malbec with lots of ripe black cherries, strawberries, blackberries and spices. Hints of graphite and violet, too. Round and juicy on the medium- to full-bodied palate with firm and lightly chewy tannins.

Winemaker Description

A Malbec of an intense bright red color with purple hues. On the nose, enticing aromas of dark fruits and spices come out, laced with the most enthralling mineral nuances.

It is solid and robust on the palate, revealing plenty of concentration, a defined character and smoothness. Its soft tannins create a pleasant texture, while its crisp acidity, personality and balance all lead seamlessly to a long and complex finish. Winemaker Description.

Winemaker Description 

La Fuerza revitalizes the long history of vermouth in Argentina with a modern and forward-looking twist - made from Mendoza-grown grapes and herbs from the Andes.

TASTING NOTES
Earthy notes: mace, juniper, and star anise, with notes of peppermint and green tea. The finish has a touch of dried fruits and spice.

COCKTAIL SUGGESTIONS
La Fuerza Rojo is the perfect addition to a simple spritz, or any other cocktail calling for vermouth like a Negroni or Americano. 

Winemaker Description

Intense purple in color. Deep floral aromas, especially violets, and red fruits such as raspberries and strawberries. On the palate, the tannins are present but well integrated and the structure of the wine leads into a long, delicious finish. 

Expert Review

93 Points James Suckling | Aromas of ripe plums, blueberry jam, licorice, leather and wet earth. Full bodied, firm and structured with chewy tannins, yet with a soft, creamy texture and a savory feel. Lots of ripe blue-fruit and violet notes. Flavorful finish. (2020).

Winemaker Notes

Ver Sacrum (Sacred Spring) GSM is from the Uco Valley about 2 hours drive from Mendoza into the higher mountains.  GSM is a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre or Garnacha, Syrah and Monastrell whether you use French or Spanish names for the grapes.   The blend produces a wine that is leaner and "Rhone like”  very different from the Malbecs produced in Argentina.

70% Grenache Noir, 15% Syrah, 15% Monastrell co-fermented. A cool, semi-carbonic maceration lasts 8 days. Fermentation in a 3,000-litre raw-concrete egg-shaped fermenter with no skin contact. Ambient yeasts only. 50% of the wine is aged here on its lees, the other 50% is aged in third-use French oak for 6 months. 8 months in bottle before release. 

Critic Notes

Oscar Garcia 67Wine.com | Ver Sacrum (Sacred Spring) GSM is from the Uco Valley about 2 hours drive from Mendoza into the higher mountains.  GSM is a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre or Garnacha, Syrah and Monastrell whether you use French or Spanish names for the grapes.   The blend produces a wine that is leaner and "Rhone like”  very different from the Malbecs produced in Argentina.

Amanda Barnes writes:  Pale cherry in colour, Ver Sacrum takes a delicate approach to their GSM blend which sings with notes of wild strawberries, tarragon and cherry blossom. There’s a slight tartness to the palate, with crisp acidity and barely-there powdery tannins. Delightfully easy-drinking, chillable light red.  Drinking 2024 to 2026.  - Jancis Robinson 16+

Winemaker Description

Red with purple highlights. Predominant aromas of black fruits as plum and berries in harmony with toasted hints and spicy notes of white pepper. Fruity and fresh profile. Presence of a slight toasted touch due to its barrel aging.

At 3,500 feet above sea level our vineyards in Mendoza are in the ideal location for growing the grapes that create Terrazas de los Andes Altos del Plata Malbec. The regions particular microclimate allows us to obtain this intense and gentle Malbec. 

Winemaker Description 

Eduardo Soler started Ver Sacrum in 2012 after spending some time in the Gredos, in Madrid, and falling in love with the mountain Garnacha. An avid mountaineer who has had a career managing and running ski resorts in Argentina, he decided to start making wines, all from Rhone varietals. His idea is to make fresh ones, with lower alcohol and lighter skin contact, not exactly what Argentina has been known for. 

His wines ferment from native yeasts and there are no corrections, no filtration, or pump overs. The winery currently sources from two different vineyards in Barrancas (Maipu) and Los Chacayes (Uco Valley) where they have  planted Grenache, Monastrell, Carignan, Roussane, Marsanne, Mencia, Syrah, Teroldego, and Nebbiolo.  

100% hand harvested Grenache Noir from a single vineyard in the Los Chacayes IG within the Uco Valley.  Grapes are 25% whole cluster and undergo semi carbonic maceration for 14 days and fermentation in concrete eggs. Aged 50% in concrete eggs

Winemaker Description

This wine has a dark, intense color, with hints of violet. The nose reveals a complex mix of aromas including raspberry, black pepper, violets, cloves and subtle notes of dark chocolate. On the palate the wine is well-balanced with a refreshing acidity and ripe tannins that contribute to the harmony and smoothness of the palate. 

Expert Ratings 

98 Points Decanter | Fresh berries such as blackcurrant, violets, balsamic notes and tobacco combine in the nose. On the palate, it’s harmonious and refined, showcasing good freshness and extremely subtle, fine tannins. The cool summer of 2019 made this vintage one of the best in decades. Caro 2019 is one of the finest incarnations of this Bordeaux-inspired wine, a blend of 64% Malbec with 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in barrels for 18 months. Boasts significant ageing potential; at least 10 years.

95 Points James Suckling | Chocolatey, cedary oak with truffles and tobacco here. While there is a lot of oak to flatter at this stage, it still delivers restraint, bearing and class. Keep smelling and you'll find scented, dark lead pencil, meaty spices, fine blackberries and a hint of tar. Ripe and rich, but nuanced, with more complexity that takes time to fully uncoil. Really silky, precise and polished tannins, loaded with some fruit sweetness on the palate, then extending to the finish that lasts a minute. Drinkable now, but better to hold.

94 Points Robert Parker | The serious, balanced and quite complete 2019 Caro was made with 64% Malbec and 36% Cabernet Sauvignon and produced in a classical style. It's a wine with ripeness, Mendoza sun and Bordeaux elegance and subtleness. It feels harmonious and integrated, with 14.5% alcohol and good balancing freshness. It matured in French barriques and 4,200-liter oak foudre for 14 months, which was a shorter élevage and using larger-volume containers to achieve neatly integrated oak. It's complex, clean and elegant, and the palate reveals a velvety texture with juicy fruit and round tannins.

93 Points Wine Spectator | Elegantly styled, with lovely notes of plumeria and cocoa nibs clinging to lush blackberry and cherry flavors, which are buoyed by fresh acidity midpalate and fan out around fine tannins. Ends with notes of slate and spice. Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2032.

Winemaker Description

This vintage of our Malbec Clásico is fully representative of Altos Las Hormigas style, as the joyful and fresh expression of Mendoza Malbec. Displaying a bright ruby red color, this wine has a fruity nose of plums and raspberries complemented with herbal notes. 

The first palate shows supple tannins with a balanced acidity that is the secret of its freshness. Notes of crisp red fruits fill the mouth, with a soft texture and a long finish. This is a pleasant wine, ideal to pair with various dishes, from red meats to pasta or grilled vegetables.

Winemaker Description 

This wine is 100% hand harvested Garnacha from a single plot that is all planted to goblet within the estate vineyard in the Los Chacayes IG within the Uco Valley. The nose is vibrant and perfumed showing raspberry and cranberry wrapped up in wet clay and a touch of ash. The palate is soft and round with red cherry and baking spices with a light tannin backbone. A very nuanced and layered wine.

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

James Suckling 91 Points | A deeply colored malbec with dark plums, cherry blossom, lavender and pink peppercorns on the nose. Creamy and fruit-forward with sweet berry and floral notes, wrapped up in ripe tannins and a full body. Vegan.

Winemaker Description 

The intense violet color makes it a worthy representative of the wines from Los Chacayes. A wine of distinct aromatic complexity, with outstanding notes of red fruits, floral aromas of violets, vanilla and cigar. The mouth confirms the presence of black fruits like blackberries and spices. The medium structure and silky tannins are perfectly balanced with the delicious natural acidity, leading to a prolonged finish.

Producer Description 

This Malbec Superior is the very essence of Paraje Altamira wines. With a bright, energetic acidity and delicate minerality, it offers notes of black berries, subtle spicy accents typical of contact with oak and a silky and expressive finish.

Winemaker Descrirption

This pure and fresh Malbec from Tupungato in Argentina’s Uco Valley offers shimmering red and black fruit — cherries, strawberries, and plums — backed by sweet herbs and a delicate spice. Made from organic fruit by winemakers and childhood friends Norberto Páez and Sebastián Bisole, using 30% whole custer fermentation and indigenous yeasts, it’s a great partner for everything from carne asada to barbecue, including potato salad!

Winemaker Description

Del Mono, which means 'From the Monkey', is a blend of 50% Malbec and 50% Syrah. It is made with village fruit from different growers in Tupunga. he nose has notes of plum, blackberry, vanilla, and cassis all dusted in hot chocolate powder. Rich on the palate with solid concentration but extremely well balanced showing dark fruit with a touch of spice and well integrated tannins. The finish lingers with ample fruit and light acid. 

Winemaker Description

Garnet red with ruby reflections. Expressive aromas of ripe strawberries, sour cherries, blackberries, and sweet baking spices.

Light bodied with a generous palate of juicy fresh fruits, balanced acidity and tannins that bring out the perfect amount of sweetness. Serve slightly chilled paired with charcuterie and cheeses, or on its own.

Winemaker: Veronica Ortego
Appellation: Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
Grapes: 100% Malbec. Winemaker Description. 

An elegant, fruit forward wine with intense aromas of fresh red fruit. The mouth feel shows a full palate with soft round tannins and a long persistent finish. Certified Sustainability & Vegan.  Winemaker Description.

Winemaker Description

A vibrant bouquet of fresh red and  black fruits with floral notes and a hint  of pepper. It is medium-bodied, has a  moderate amount of gentle yet grippy  tannins and refreshing acidity. 

Winemaker Description

TintoNegro, meaning "black wine" in Spanish, is meant to celebrate the essence of Malbec in Mendoza. Known for its dark, blackish color, Malbec is definitely a TintoNegro. TintoNegro wines are meant to reflect the heart and soul of Malbec in Mendoza.

The wine explores the terroirs of Mendoza where Malbec does best, gradually isolating unique vineyard sites and wine making techniques which can showcase the heights of concentration and complexity to which Malbec can aspire. 

Winemaker Descrption 

Bianchi Oasis Sur Malbec has a great intense color with fresh and complex aromas that offer spice, fresh plums, blackberries and figs. Sweet, with gentle and ripe tannins mark its initial presence on the palate. The wine is unctuous, round and complex with a full mouth-feel, medium structure and a harmonious and fruity finish.