Clos de Los Siete 2007

92RP: `A blend with 50% Malbec 30% Merlot 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Syrah. Opaque purplecolored it has a similar expressive nose including fragrant plum blueberry and black cherry. Ripe sweet and seamless it admirably hides its tannin under all the fruit. It will evolve for several years but who will have the will power to defer gratification?

October 2009

Purpurrot, fast violett. Reifes Bouquet nach schwarzen Johannisbeeren, Edelhölzern, Pralinen. Wunderbar süsse Frucht im einnehmenden Gaumen, crèmig, Brombeeren und reife Zwetschgen, schöne Röstaromatik, dunkles Brot, druckvolles Finale.

May 2009

Nice but no marvel, somehow the blend doesn't quite blend. But tasty and lively.

August 2009

92RP see above next screen for discounted case price

October 2009

Clos des los Siete refers to the seven owners who joint-own the Mendoza (or just south of), Argentina operation.

Here’s a GREAT read about the operation:
http://www.vinography.com/archives/2007/01/the_wines_of_clos_de_los_siete.html

The 2007 Clos de los Siete is a blend of 48% Malbec, 28% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 12% Syrah.

PART I: I’ve split this review into two parts: The first, as you read more...read here, reflects the first day of tasting this wine, after a twenty minute decant. Even after so, the wine was wound so tight it was tough to approach with even the fattiest of food pairings. So, I sealed up the bottle, and let it sit out over night, to be tasted again the following day, hoping that a night spent in the bottle would soften it up.

Pairing: The ’07 Clos de los Siete, as of this tasting, is so tight and gripping that it would kill any live wild game you could serve with it.

PART II: I’ve split this review into two parts: This being the second part, after the bottle had a night to sit (while sealed) in the hopes that it would unwind at least a bit- but really to little avail. I went out of my way to like this wine- to give it the benefit of the doubt. Maybe I’m just missing the boat, and maybe in ten years it will have softened to the point of being enjoyable. Perhaps it’s just not my “style” of wine, since I do favor wines that I can pair with food and the like.

There’s a very good chance I’m just missing what all the hype is about concerning this wine. I understand Mr. Rolland enjoys a wealthy and healthy reputation with Mr. Parker- and I know too that he may have been on the receiving end of a bad rap from the film “Mondo Vino”, regarding his “consultations”, micro-oxygenation, et al... Truth of it is though, I have enjoyed cheaper wines that will be better in five years and are MUCH better NOW.

With all the money invested in the Clos de los Siete operation I can understand why this particular wine has such an unusually powerful backing behind it... but I’m afraid to say that with all of the notes of praise swirling around in its glass- I find that very glass to be half empty and entirely over-hyped, rather than half full.

It’s not a “bad” wine, but it is dramatically over-hyped, in my youthful palate’s opinion.

Pairing: Live Bear? Charging wild boar? ...Stilton cheese?    (hide)

• Tags:
• Argentina
• Clos de los Siete
• Michel Rolland
• Malbec Blend

October 2009

Rating: 91/100 - As reviewed by Wine & Spirits Magazine on 02/09