This is quite attractive on the nose with a floral base note framing the cinnamon dusted plum and black cherry notes on the nose, and picking up a bit of dried herb with air. Round and plump up front, the rich plum and blackberrry fruit is nicely supported by integrated acids and rounded tannins. There’s some obvious wood on the mid-palate acting as a bit of a spice accent to the fruit, and the wood tannin shows through on the moderately long finish but the fruit here is quite bright, fresh and persistent showing off flashes of herbs and a licorice note. This has fine fruit and complexity and a lovely, inviting texture supple, smooth and yet innately firm. 92pts
Intensely aromatic on the nose with imposing aromas of dried herbs and dried blood orange peel along with inky notes and hints of diesel and stone all layered over a base of black currant and blackberry fruit with bitter chocolate shavings over them. Another wine that is so smooth, and polished in this case but not without life in the mouth. There’s a nice edge to the acidity and it helps to highlight the mineral streak that runs through this herb infused and slightly amaro tinged wine. The fruit is dark, mulberry and dates along with a rich, slightly chewy core of black currants all coming together with nuanced tobacco and oak notes on the backend and then turning chocolaty on the long and attractively wild raspberry tinged finish. A bit of a powerhouse but very well made. 91pts
Very aromatic with lots of sweet toasty oak and super-ripe fruit lending a really sweet impression to the nose here, filled as it is with candied blackberry, orange peel, and chocolate covered black cherry studded with clove, vanilla and allspice. Seamless in the mouth this is rich and powerful but not as large scaled as one might expect from the nose. It’s a little chewy and while it is frankly oaky the oaky is well done and balanced by the intense black cherry skin, mineral and mulberry flavors that gain a hint of green anise seed and herb on the backend. The acid and minerality op on the finish, which is cut short but it’s relatively heavy load of tannin. This is intense and a powerhouse that sacrifices nuance for intensity. 91pts
Dry, earthy and herbal on the nose which is quite pronounced and distinctive. There’s a lot of spice action emerging with air and a fine core of candied black fruits. Matte on entry, and low in the mouth, this shows a tight core of fresh black raspberry and blackcurrant fruit framed with nuanced green herbal tones and topped with well judged oak. The green herbal aspects add attractive freshness in the mouth and highlight the acids which add some lift to the backend before reintegrating with the tart berry fruit on the modest finish which ends with a bit of sweet oak spice. For a big wine this shows some restraint and has some old world character with a fine mineral note coming out with air. 91pts
70% Malbec, 30% Bonarda
Fairly vanilla oaky on the nose but also nicely rosemary stemmy with intriguing herb notes helping to add complexity to the plummy and candied black cherry fruits of the nose. This is very broad on entry, and shows attractive transparency on the palate with modest tannins and well integrated acidity supporting fresh plummy fruit. There’s a nuance of chocolaty oak here but it’s really very well integrated, and while the tannins build on the palate they remain within the rich if simple fruit. The finish is a bit subtle and shows good persistence to the dried herb, mineral and older wood flavors that help to carry a kernel of red cherry fruit right through to the finale. Rather juicy and perhaps a touch simple but also quite satisfying on a hedonistic level without crossing the fruit bomb line. 90pts
Comments
Maipe Malbec 2012 and Maipe Malbec Reserve 2012
Oct 22, 2013 at 12:29 PM
Wow, one of these wine review articles to which I can add a semi-related comment. So many times these articles have wines that are pretty hard to find in retail stores--and I live in a pretty big metropolis. However, last spring my brother-in-law gave me a bottle of the 2007 Mora Negra that a friend had brought back from Argentina. You reviewed 2009 version, but your comments were similar, although much more elegant, to my notes on the 2007.
Oct 22, 2013 at 6:37 PM
I believe that are others high quality malbecs from wineries like: O.Fournier, Carmelo Patti, Achaval Ferrer...I will be glad with you commet this, because this wines are my favorites. Tks,
Oct 22, 2013 at 7:41 PM
Kamel
it´s really Interesting to see ... thank you it's well done :)
http://www.lacksokning.com/leak-det...
Oct 23, 2013 at 1:21 AM
Thank you so much for your article, it's very interesting I just was wondering where did you get those prices, I mean, when I go to the supermarket or to a wine boutique store, is impossible to find such a low prices. Besides, nowadays I will not buy a wine lower than $40 that is EUR 5. In France to ensure you are buying a good (not outstanding) wine you have to spend around EUR 12 - 20, preferible with a gold or silver prize won by the cepage. If you are demanding you will spend more.
I like good wines, I also take the time for discovering new propositions and I'm demanding with quality. Of course I like to share it with family and friends.
Nov 04, 2013 at 3:09 PM
I think I made a mistake if you are talking in USD prices.
Nov 04, 2013 at 3:20 PM
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