5 | Wine | Mendoza, 2009

"Pain grille, pencil lead, Asian spices, incense, violets, and assorted black fruits inform the nose of a complex, intense, layered, spicy, succulent wine with impeccable balance and length. Although it can be approached now, it will benefit from another 2-3 years of cellaring."

"Purple in color, with a brooding bouquet, it is a dense, structured, rich wine with impeccable balance, volume, and length. It has the structure to evolve for 2-3 years but can be approached now. It, too, is a great value."

"Ruby-red. Good spicy lift to the aromas of blackberry, licorice and bitter chocolate. Pure and focused, with intense dark berry and spice flavors firmed by a solid spine of acidity. Finishes strong and long, with broad but fine tannins. Excellent potential here."-Stephen Tanzer

"The flagship is the 2009 Grand Malbec, a contender for Malbec of the vintage at this early stage. A glass-coating opaque purple color with legs that ooze down the glass, it offers up a beautiful bouquet of sandalwood, exotic spices, truffle, floral notes, red licorice, and black cherry. Voluptuous on the palate, this sweetly-fruited, dense, nicely proportioned Malbec will evolve for 4-5 years and deliver prime drinking from 2015 to 2029."

"Licorice and chocolatey oak dominate the nose. Very ripe and thick but also juicy and serious, with a flavor of raspberry liqueur supported by serious tannic structure. Less confectionery than the Patriota or Jubilo bottlings, and a bit less easygoing today. Finishes broad, round, lush and fairly tannic, with strong chocolatey oak tones and good energy. This held up nicely with extended aeration."

"Good red-ruby. Restrained but pure aromas of black cherry and licorice lifted by spices. Juicy but imploded; a bit tart but nicely energetic. In a rather reserved, medicinal style, in need of a bit more flesh and give. No easy sweetness here, but finishes with a smooth dusting of tannins and decent length." -Stephen Tanzer

"Elegant personality but with a firm structure. Elements of savory black fruits intermingled with floral notes and exotic spices lead to a layered, spicy palate that expands nicely in the glass".

"Plush on the palate, it offers up loads of sweet black cherry fruit. It has a different aromatic and flavor profile than Vintage Port (the wine is not fortified and was made with new oak) but can be utilized at the table for similar purposes."