I migliori Malbec argentini degustati da Decanter

Trasmetto di seguito l’elenco dei migliori malbech argentini che hanno superato i fatidici 90/100, secondo i degustatori della rivista britannica Decanter.

Buona lettura

Roberto Gatti

 

 

 

1 ) Doña Paula, Los Indios Parcel, Altamira, San Carlos, Uco Valley 2010

Decanter average score: 19pts/20 (96/100pts)

Individual judges’ scores: Jo Ahearne MW 19 Phil Crozier 19 Patricio Tapia 19

The Selección de Bodega Malbec is a classic wine of modern Argentina. Produced by Doña Paula (owned by Viña Santa Rita in Chile), it’s a selection of its best Malbec. From 2010, Doña Paula decided to bottle the components separately, hence this collection of parcelas or vineyards, one of them Los Indios. The cool orientation gives notes of violets and fresh red fruit, while the sun ensures a rich, soft tannic structure. Despite its lovely fruitiness, the complexity will ensure it ages for a decade or more.

Jo Ahearne MW: Rosemary and hints of violets provide the backbone of aromatics. The velvet texture is tempered by close-knitted, fine tannins. Stunning stuff.

Phil Crozier: Beautiful colour. Lots of perfume and medicinal notes on the nose. Exceptional balance, glorious texture and a lovely, long finish.

Patricio Tapia: A wonderful expression of Altamira – deep flavours, soft tannins, round and ripe, without being heavy or flat. Violets and

blackberries everywhere. A lovely example of a great terroir.

Price £42.99 Hallgarten Druitt

Drink 2013–2025

Alc 14.8%

 

 

2 ) Bodega Antucura, Barrandica, Vista Flores, Tunuyán, Uco Valley 2012

Decanter average score: 18.5pts/20 (95/100pts)

Individual judges’ scores: Jo Ahearne MW 18.5 Phil Crozier 18.5 Patricio Tapia 18.5

Antucura began producing wines in 1998 in the Vista Flores area, 1,050 meters above sea level in the Uco Valley. During the first years, Antucura offered wines of great strength and ripeness, focused on the influence of new wood. Since 2010, it has moved in style towards fresher, more drinkable wines. And this Barrandica is an excellent example. According to Antucura’s owner, Anne Caroline Biancheri, the aim was to rediscover the floral notes and freshness of Vista Flores. She has definitely achieved her goal in this vibrant and fruity red, an ideal route in for wine lovers new to Argentinian Malbec.

Jo Ahearne MW: A wonderful velvet texture with great purity. Dense bramble fruit with hints of violets. Good length and lovely juiciness, and with a firm, fine tannic structure.

Phil Crozier: Very expressive with lovely floral notes of roses, plus black pepper. Lovely mouthfeel and purity. The purest of Malbec expression.

Patricio Tapia: Nice, pure expression of Malbec. Clean fruit, violets and strawberries. A great wine to understand Malbec in general and Vista Flores Malbec in particular. Pure and drinkable.

Price £14.95 Ruta 40

Drink 2013–2020

Alc 14.7%

 

 

 

3 )Dominio del Plata, Susana Balbo Mandala Collection, Vista Flores, Tunuyán, Uco Valley 2011

Decanter average score: 18.5pts/20 (95/100pts)

Individual judges’ scores: Jo Ahearne MW 18.5 Phil Crozier 18.5 Patricio Tapia 18.5

Susana Balbo is one of the most important figures on the Argentinian wine scene, and the wines from her Dominio del Plata winery are among the best in the country. This voluptuous and fleshy Malbec comes from a vineyard planted in the mid-1990s in Vista Flores. One third of the grapes were fermented in 300-litre barrels, the remainder in steel tanks. The final blend was aged in new French oak for about 10 months.

Jo Ahearne MW: Floral notes on the nose and palate. Super-dense fruit with hints of minerality. Great persistence. A great combination of elegance and power.

Phil Crozier: Super-clean nose with plenty of oak character that doesn’t impede the fruit. Cardamom and coffee notes underpin the complexity of this wine. Juicy in the mouth.

Patricio Tapia: Oak and figs, super-round and voluptuous. Very good example of its style. A big, generous wine.

Price £30 Cavas de Gaucho

Drink 2013–2018

Alc 14.5%

 

 

 

4 )Viña Amalia, Reserva, Altamira, San Carlos, Uco Valley 2011

Decanter average score: 18.5pts/20 (95/100pts)

Individual judges’ scores: Jo Ahearne MW 18.5 Phil Crozier 18.5 Patricio Tapia 18.5

Carlos Basso, the former owner of Bodega Santa Ana (now under the giant Peñaflor group: Trapiche, Las Moras, El Esteco), is one of the winemaking legends of Mendoza. After selling Santa Ana, Basso started his own family project, and Amalia is part of it. This Reserva comes from the Amalia Vineyard, his signature estate in San Carlos, planted mainly with Cabernet Sauvignon (Basso has a strong reputation with the grape in Argentina) and with Malbec, delivering a powerful, muscular style of red.

Jo Ahearne MW: Great purity of fruit with chocolate and plum notes. Firm tannins and generosity of spirit.

Phil Crozier: Dark fruits, wet stone and herbs on the nose. Creamy, with a soft texture and a lovely, lifted texture on the finish.

Patricio Tapia: Serious stuff – concentrated and solid in structure, dark fruit and spices. Alcohol bothers a little bit, but it is a drinkable wine. A good expression of Malbec.

Price N/A UK amalia.com.ar

Drink 2013–2019

Alc 14%

 

 

 

5 )Colomé, Auténtico, Valles Calchaquíes, Salta 2011

Decanter average score: 18.25pts/20 (94/100pts)

Individual judges’ scores: Jo Ahearne MW 18.5 Phil Crozier 18.5 Patricio Tapia 17.5

Ripe black fruits, beetroot and black olive. Soft tannins with hints of cooked fruit, but good concentration with a luscious, round texture showing black spice.

Price £29–£29.99 Carruthers & Kent, Liberty Wines, Swig

Drink 2013–2016

Alc 14.5%

 

 

 

6 ) Altocedro, Reserva, La Consulta, San Carlos, Uco Valley 2011

Decanter average score: 18pts/20 (93/100pts)

Individual judges’ scores: Jo Ahearne MW 18 Phil Crozier 18 Patricio Tapia 18

Very good expression of Malbec. A wonderful concentration exhibiting damson fruit, chocolate and a touch of thyme. Deep and dark, with impressive structure and oak, plus round, voluptuous tannins.

Price N/A UK www.altocedro.com.ar

Drink 2013–2022

Alc 14.8%

 

 

7 ) François Lurton, Piedra Negra Reserve, Vista Flores, Tunuyán, Uco Valley 2011

Decanter average score: 18pts/20 (93/100pts)

Individual judges’ scores: Jo Ahearne MW 18 Phil Crozier 19 Patricio Tapia 17

Violets, rose, lavender, black fruits and exotic spices on the nose. A powerful but elegant, floral style with a hint of minerality. In terms of expression, this wine has it in spades. Lovely.

Price £11–£12 Roberson

Drink 2013–2018

Alc 14.5%

 

 

 

8 ) La Celia, Elite, La Consulta, San Carlos, Uco Valley 2011

Decanter average score: 18pts/20 (93/100pts)

Individual judges’ scores: Jo Ahearne MW 18.5 Phil Crozier 18 Patricio Tapia 17.5

Very pure fruits, lots of kirsch and clove. Black olives and bitter chocolate fill the mouth, while the tannins are fine and round with refreshing acidity. Great concentration.

Price £18.99 Bottle Green

Drink 2013–2023

Alc 14.4%

 

 

 

9 )Terrazas de Los Andes, Single Vineyard, Las Compuertas, Luján de Cuyo 2009

Decanter average score: 18pts/20 (93/100pts)

Individual judges’ scores: Jo Ahearne MW 18 Phil Crozier 18 Patricio Tapia 18

Cellars, Richard Dawes, Templar Wines

Black olives, bitter chocolate and damson jam with a twist of thyme. Powerful and intense. An excellent example of Las Compuertas. Needs more time, but will get better and better.

Price £29–£31 (2008) Charlie the Wine, Hailsham

Drink 2013–2020

Alc 15%

 

 

 

10 )Ave, Gran Riserva, Pedriel, Luján de Cuyo 2007

Decanter average score: 17.75pts/20 (92/100pts)

Individual judges’ scores: Jo Ahearne MW 18 Phil Crozier 18.5 Patricio Tapia 17

Dark and brooding, with loads of life left. Mocha and bitter chocolate, kirsch and black cherry fruit. Extra ripe, figgy and dark fruit, lots of oak tones, strong body, and rich in tannins and structure.

Price £19.95 Ruta 40

Drink 2013–2022

Alc 14.8%

 

 

 

11 )Clos de Chacras, Cavas de Crianza, La Consulta, San Carlos, Uco Valley 2010

Decanter average score: 17.75pts/20 (92/100pts)

Individual judges’ scores: Jo Ahearne MW 18.5 Phil Crozier 17.5 Patricio Tapia 17

Perfumed oak mingles with aromatic herbal tones. Despite the fact that oak is everywhere in this wine, the fruit flavours behind are fresh and seductive, filled with strawberries and plums. Amazing concentration with a herbal, mineral finish.

Price N/A UK www.closdechacras.com.ar

Drink 2013–2020

Alc 15.5%

 

 

 

12 )TintoNegro, Finca la Escuela, Altamira, San Carlos, Uco Valley 2011

Decanter average score: 17.75pts/20 (92/100pts)

Individual judges’ scores: Jo Ahearne MW 17.5 Phil Crozier 18.5 Patricio Tapia 17.5

Lovely velvet texture. Hints of olives and dark chocolate sit alongside dark red fruit. This is a perfect Malbec for people who like big reds. A little closed right now, but plenty of potential.

Price £22–£24.99 Armit, Hic Wine Merchants

Drink 2013–2019

Alc 14%

 

 

 

13 )Trapiche, Terroir Series, Finca Jorge Miralles, La Consulta , San Carlos, Uco Valley 2009

Decanter average score: 17.75pts/20 (92/100pts)

Individual judges’ scores: Jo Ahearne MW 18.5 Phil Crozier 16 Patricio Tapia 16.5

Lifted, floral aromatics follow onto the palate providing an elegant, almost pretty wine. The fine, polished tannins add an extra dimension of freshness to this densely packed wine. Juicy but powerful.

Price £29.99 Armit, Handfords, Peake Wines

Drink 2013–2017

Alc 15%

 

 

 

14 )Viña Cobos, Bramare, Luján de Cuyo 2010

Decanter average score: 17.75pts/20 (92/100pts)

Individual judges’ scores: Jo Ahearne MW 18 Phil Crozier 18 Patricio Tapia 17.5

Super-ripe, this is a big kind of Malbec. Densely packed red fruits supported by fine, firm tannins with black cherry, liquorice and an undercurrent of graphite. Ripe but with a refreshing herbal twist at the end.

Price £25.50–£27.99 Aged in Oak Wine Company, Carruthers & Kent, Define Food & Wine, Reserve Wines, The Sampler, The Wineking, Worth Bros

Drink 2013–2018

Alc 15%

 

 

 

15 )Corvus, Ala Negra, Lunlunta, Maipú 2007

Decanter average score: 17.5pts/20 (91/100pts)

Individual judges’ scores: Jo Ahearne MW 16 Phil Crozier 18 Patricio Tapia 18.5

Damsons, sweet spice, raisins and eucalyptus on the nose. Super-tight, fresh red fruit in a classical style. Moderated by a pungent acidity, flavours of dry cherries and coffee float in this old-school style of Malbec.

Price £15.95 Ruta 40

Drink 2013–2024

Alc 14%

 

 

 

16 )Finca Las Divas, Riglos, Gualtallary, Tupungato, Uco Valley 2009

Decanter average score: 17.5pts/20 (91/100pts)

Individual judges’ scores: Jo Ahearne MW 17.5 Phil Crozier 17 Patricio Tapia 18

Fragrant, with lovely olive notes and brambly fruit. Cardamom and black-coffee notes.

Price £26.99 Butlers, Cavas de Gaucho

Drink 2013–2020

Alc 15%

 

 

 

17 )Manos Negras, Stone Soil Select, Altamira, San Carlos, Uco Valley 2010

Decanter average score: 17.5pts/20 (91/100pts)

Individual judges’ scores: Jo Ahearne MW 17 Phil Crozier 18.5 Patricio Tapia 17

Medicinal and ripe on the nose, deep and inviting. Silky texture with a nice flash of acidity on the finish. The wine has great plum fruit, herbal hints and a wonderful structure, with fig flavours showing at the end.

Price £16.95 Coe Vintners

Drink 2013–2018

Alc 14%

 

 

 

18 )Tamarí, AR, La Consulta, San Carlos, Uco Valley 2011

Decanter average score: 17.5pts/20 (91/100pts)

Individual judges’ scores: Jo Ahearne MW 17 Phil Crozier 18.5 Patricio Tapia 17

Pretty, floral notes on the nose, with great purity of fruit. Densely packed black fruits, like a jar of homemade jam, provide the core of this wine. Big, ripe red fruits and sweet spice. This is a lovely wine with a clean finish.

Price £18.99 International Wine Shippers

Drink 2013–2020

Alc 14%

 

 

 

 

( Fonte Decanter.com )