Bodegas Salentein Malbec Reserve 2010

Reserve Malbec 2010 - 90 points, Wine Enthusiast/ Compact, concentrated and clean, with all its components in place. The bouquet is dark with charcoal, but bright with berry fruit aromas. The mouthfeel is comfortable and balanced, with sweet berry flavors offset by mild spice and proper oak. Soft tannins define the finish; a fine Malbec that doesn’t overdo it.

Malbec Reserve 2010 - 88 points, Wine Spectator/ This juicy red offers a floral mix of raspberry, cassis, and blackberry fruit notes, backed by bright acidity and a fine, minerally finish.

Reserve Malbec 2010 - 91+ points, iwinereview.com/ Like the Salentein Chardonnay Reserve, the Malbec Reserve is exceptional quality for the price. It’s a well-balanced wine with meaty red fruit notes on the nose. It shows an inner mouth perfume with flavors of ripe dark plum, blackberry, and savory, saline notes on a full, nicely weighted palate. Made from selected grapes of both low and high altitude vineyard parcels yielding about 6 tons/hectare and aged in 50% new American and French oak for 12 months.

/ Good medium ruby. Musky, gamey aromas and flavors of black raspberry, licorice, chocolate and violet face powder struck me as northern Rhone-like. Sweet, lush and wild, showing a slight reduction but enlivened by good vinosity and peppery lift. Finishes with sweet, dusty tannins, good energy and lingering sweetness.

reifes Pflaumenaroma, dunkle Kirschen, feine Gewürze und Tabak, vollmundig, kräftig, reife rote Beeren, saftig, süssliche Tannine, langer Abgang

Malbec Reserve 2010 - 91 points, Wine & Spirits/ Full of violet and black fruit scents, this wine has ripened to cherry liqueur notes. The flavors follow with an unbridled, juicy decadence that will complement braised meats. This is a blend of two vineyards at close to 4,000.

In the remote upper reaches of Argentina’s Uco Valley on the eastern slopes of the Andes, Bodegas Salentein produces a remarkable collection of wines from vineyards planted at some of the highest elevations on the planet. From this lofty outpost, 65 miles south of the bustling city of Mendoza, Argentina’s winemaking capital, Bodegas Salentein (Sah-len-tyne) has forged an international reputation for its fine wines. Each year, growing numbers of curious wine lovers are drawn to this spectacular location, intent on discovering and experiencing the beauty and ethos of Bodegas Salentein for themselves. Bodegas Salentein is a wine destination like no other. Established in the late 1990s, Salentein is a privately-owned estate of almost 5,000 acres, of which 1,124 acres are planted to vine. The property includes a world-class winery and cellars, a 125-acre nature preserve, the showpiece Killka Center for Culture and the Arts, a nearby lodge (the Posada Salentein, offering an elegant and relaxed retreat into nature), and the landmark Chapel of Gratitude, a non-denominational chapel of ascetic loveliness, built using ancient local stonework techniques. Production Area Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina The grapes grow on alluvial, stony soils of the high elevation vineyards of the El Oasis estate (3,609 feet above sea level) and the La Pampa estate (4,101 feet above sea level). The handling of the canopy is based on a perfect balance of shade and sunlight, allowing each grape to reach optimum ripeness. Grape Varieties 100% Malbec Vinification 100% of the grapes are hand-harvested and selected before undergoing a gentle de-stemming. From the selection table, the berries go directly to a 450 kg hopper, where they are received with dry ice to avoid oxidation, and then are transferred to stainless steel tanks, without the use of pumps. Cold maceration takes place for 5 days, at a temperature of 46°F to 50°F, with the berries nearly whole, in order to extract aroma and color. Alcoholic fermentation follows for 10 days at a temperature of 79°F-82°F and maceration continues for 15 more days. The wine is then transferred to French oak barrels (first, second, and third use) where malolactic fermentation takes place. The wine ages in the barrels for 12 months before bottling, and is held in the cellar six months prior to release. Color Medium Ruby Bouquet Ripe plums, cherries and blackberries are complemented by a hint of tobacco Taste A balanced and complex wine with flavors of redcurrants, black cherries and cinnamon with a long lasting finish marked by notes of leather, tobacco and vanilla Alcohol 14.5% Serving Suggestions Well-matched with barbecued meats, robust pasta entrées, baked ham, pork chops and sharp cheeses