Argentinian Malbec blends: panel tasting results

<p>Top wine of 2015 Bramble and garrigue aromas with black pepper and dried flowers. A hint of chocolate and dark cherries on the palate with a savoury, intense finish. Shows real complexity and class. Decanter average score: 18.75/20pts Individual judges&rsquo; scores: Phil Crozier 19 Patricio Tapia 18.5 Dirceu Vianna Junior MW 18.5 Passionate Wine is the personal adventure of Matias Michelini, winemaking consultant at Zorzal winery and Bodega Sophenia, among others. Demente (&lsquo;Crazy&rsquo;) comes from eight vineyards across Gualtallary and it&rsquo;s harvested several times during the season (40 days of difference between the first and last pick). Michelini&rsquo;s goal here is to represent the Gualtallary terroir: he uses 55% Malbec and 45% Cabernet Franc, fermented in concrete eggs and with minimal oak ageing.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><em><strong>Phil Crozier</strong></em><br /> Lemon sherbet, citrus and mint aromas &ndash; so much tension, both dark and light! Beautiful focus and wonderful purity. Electric wine.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><em><strong>Patricio Tapia</strong></em><br /> Pure and expansive in term of aromas, but tight in texture and structure. It needs some time in bottle to open up. Graceful.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><em><strong>Dirceu Vianna Junior MW</strong></em><br /> Expressive, uplifting, lively raspberry, cherry and blackberry as well as refined herbal overtones. Fine-grained tannins, vibrant acidity and lovely savoury notes. Sophisticated, with finesse.</p>

<p>Top wine of 2015 Fine blackberry, blueberry and grassy aromas. Very juicy blackberry fruit on the palate with mineral notes leading to a savoury finish. Nicely structured and balanced; a modern expression of Malbec. Decanter average score: 18.5/20pts Individual judges&#39; scores: Phil Crozier 18.5 Patricio Tapia 18 Dirceu Vianna Junior MW 19 This is the first vintage of the second label at Gen del Alma (the 2013 vintage of the top label, Otra Piel, also got Outstanding in another Decanter tasting) and it retains the house style of grace and vivacity. Andrea Mufatto, winemaker at Zorzal Winery in Gualtallary, and her husband Gerardo Michelini (partner at Zorzal) co-fermented the free-run juice of 60% Malbec and 40% Pinot Noir grapes in concrete eggs and the wine went directly to bottle, unoaked, to preserve its lovely, joyful flavours and textures. This is one of the finest examples of vin de soif from Argentina &ndash; a style that didn&rsquo;t exist a few years ago.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><em>Phil Crozier </em></strong><br /> Light, airy and fresh. An idea that should not work, but does. Bright and earthy mulberry aromas and a lovely, unctuous yet fresh palate.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><em><strong>Patricio Tapia </strong></em><br /> A perfect wine for a sophisticated picnic or to enjoy by the pool: honest and refreshing, filled with cherry and violets. So nice and tender.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><em><strong>Dirceu Vianna Junior MW </strong></em><br /> Amazing personality: inviting and fragrant raspberries, cherries, thyme and rosemary leap out of the glass &ndash; exhilarating! Dry, light, vibrant and refreshing with exceptional purity of fruit. Low alcohol and very easy to drink. Supreme balance, tension and poise. A real triumph.</p>

<p><em><strong>Star buy of 2015 </strong></em><br /> Owner of Vi&ntilde;alba, Herv&eacute; Joyaux Fabre joined forces with Portuguese winemaker Rui Reguinga for this 80% Malbec from almost 50-year-old vines and 20% Touriga Nacional from younger vines. The result is a powerful yet refined style. The Malbec dominates with its cherry and violet notes, and Touriga contributes with denser, tighter tannins.</p> <p>Star buy of 2015 Pronounced nose of nuts, herbs and ripe fruits. Complex and savoury palate with brisk acidity and a slight oiliness. Very engaging style, with complexity from the oak and real body from the fruit. Needs a bit more time to really shine.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><em><strong>Phil Crozier </strong></em><br /> Very interesting blend. Very floral and expressive on the nose, with graphite and flowers in equal measure. Firm in the mouth, with lovely purity on the finish.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><em><strong>Patricio Tapia </strong></em><br /> A terrific example of Malbec with its violet and cherry flavours. This is extracted and powerful, with enough body to match a barbecue.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><em><strong>Dirceu Vianna Junior MW </strong></em><br /> The bouquet is pure, uplifting and inviting, with notes of blackberries, bergamot and dried Mediterranean herbs. Dry and refreshing palate with lovely juicy fruit, fine-grained tannins and a long finish. Graceful with a mouthwatering, persistent finish.</p>

<p>Decanter average score: 18.5/20pts Individual judges&rsquo; scores: Phil Crozier 18.5 Patricio Tapia 18.5 Dirceu Vianna Junior MW 18.5 In the recent past, the most ambitious (and expensive) wine of an Argentinian winery would be a super-extracted, ripe and oaky red packaged in an excessively heavy bottle. But things are moving fast and Zorzal is a great example of this sea-change. This is one of the most ambitious wines at Zorzal, but the result is a pure, refreshing, light yet complex blend of Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, co-fermented and aged for a year in a concrete egg, seeing no oak. A radical change on what Argentinian producers think of as a great wine.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><em><strong>Phil Crozier </strong></em><br /> Lots of citrus and purple flower aromas. Lovely, pure and clean fruit on the palate and a gorgeous length. A lovely wine.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><em><strong>Patricio Tapia </strong></em><br /> A pure expression of Malbec, this is clear and honest, uninterfered with by oak or overripeness. Intense cherry, violet and black pepper.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><em><strong>Dirceu Vianna Junior MW </strong></em><br /> Enticingly complex purity of cassis, blackberries, violets and herbs. Beautiful, refreshing acidity, lifted with elegant fine-grained tannins and sophisticated structure. Wild, lively, seductive, complex and refreshing.</p>

Decanter average score: 18.25/20pts Individual judges’ scores: Phil Crozier 19 Patricio Tapia 18.5 Dirceu Vianna Junior MW 17.5 Hibiscus, citrus and berry fruit. Petit Verdot delivers bones and energy, while Malbec offers seductive texture. Tannins are grippy and this wine will reward patience. Wild and shows great purity.

<p>Luscious and herbal aromas displaying intense notes of kirsch, blackberries, dried herbs and sweet spices. Lean and focused in the mouth, with black sticky fruits and an earthiness on the finish.</p>

<p>A sophisticated Gualtallary, this is pure, tense and energetic, filled with both power and finesse. Very well-made with fresh acidity, well-managed tannins and a pleasant, well-defined finish.</p>

<p>Uplifting, vibrant notes of raspberry, cherry, blackberry and violet. Peppery, clean and fresh &ndash; so pure! Seamless structure and an electric, refreshing finish. Mouthwatering and persistent.</p>

<p>Sweet black and sticky fruits typical of the Las Compuertas style. This has flesh, curves and generosity, like a huge wave. Sleek, seductive, juicy and very easy.</p>

<p>Blackberry fruit and a medicinal note compose the core of this wine. It&rsquo;s meaty and dense in a nice, rustic Agrelo style. Its complexity is enhanced by notes of dried herbs, violets and chocolate. Succulent and persistent.</p>

Funky Cabernet Franc character with exotic spices, cloves and liquorice. Very poised, with a firm but subtle palate. Very stylish and elegant. Beautiful.

<p>Very peppery on the nose with ripe, sweet, red fruit and warm spices. Sleek, fleshy and succulent flavours and strong tannins to go with meat. Seamless structure and refreshing finish.</p>

<p>Lemon sherbet with cherry blossom, tight tannins and lovely purity of fruit. On the palate it is refreshing, vibrant and pure; very focused. A little young but a wine with a wonderful future.</p>

<p>Nicely lifted fruit on the nose, with a touch of menthol; the Cabernet Franc works very well in this blend. Together with Merlot, this is filled with cherry and violets, supported by elegant tannins.</p>

<p>Lots of blueberry and hibiscus with buckets of fruit-infused leather and dark chocolate. Crunchy purple fruits on the palate combine with savoury notes and are underpinned by fresh acidity and velvety tannins.</p>

<p>A seductive, refined approach to Tupungato, filled with cherry and strawberry flavours. Well put together and harmonious with lovely focus and purity. A beautiful expression of a place.</p>

<p>Violets and dried flowers on the nose, with a touch of green tea. A vibrant and inviting, beautifully structured palate is followed by a persistent, complex finish that is both savoury and succulent.</p>

Youthful with attractive notes of blackberry, cassis and dried herbs. Very dense palate but with nice purity of fruit. Nice soft texture – a classic example of a very good Malbec blend.

<p>This is a beautiful take on a Bordeaux blend. Notes of cherries, blackberries and a leafy, herbal twist. An easy-drinking kind of wine with a touch of complexity and a vibrant finish.</p>

<p>Lots of stony graphite aromas with cassis and blackberry. Very fresh and mineral, with firm tannins and very focused fruit. Ripe, juicy and seductive with a pleasant, long finish where acidity plays a major role.</p>

<p>Lifted notes of tangerine and black fruits. Ripe, juicy and generous and also shows a tight-knit structure and a mineral edge that will allow it to become more complex with time.</p>

<p>Lots of inky graphite on the nose, with the Cabernet dominating this refreshing blend. This wine shows the wind of the Andes with its excellent concentration and bright acidity. So pure and clean.</p>

<p>Youthful, vibrant and fruit-forward with notes of kirsch, blackberries and violets. A great blend executed very well with tense tannins, fresh acidity and a pure finish that is bright and long.</p>

<p>Lots of medicinal character, with red fruits and a touch of herbs. This is a fine example of San Carlos, with violet and mineral flavours, rich cherry notes and soft texture, but at the same time solid tannins.</p>

<p>Discreet and elegant yet expressive with notes of kirsch, violet and dark chocolate. Great structure on the palate backed by cherry flavours and solid tannins. Very nice texture with good length.</p>

<p>Smoky character with dried fruit, dried flowers and intense spices. A rich, full body that is well structured with refined tannins and fresh acidity. Lovely purity of fruit; complex and deep with a long finish.</p>

<p>Dark plums, bruised sage and black olives on the nose. This feels rustic and impressive with its super ripeness and firm tannins. Quite a seductive mouthfeel, finishing with bitter chocolate.</p>

<p>Be patient; the oak currently has a major role, but eventually the fruit will take control. Ripe, juicy, generous and well-structured with a lovely savoury note on the finish. Wait a few years to broach.</p>

<p>Opulent and ripe with notes of dark fruits, black olives and a delicate herbal touch. Another good wine from Tupungato that is profound in flavour and deep in texture with a floral finish.</p>

<p>Blackberry, violet, cassis and ripe plum leap out of the glass. A refreshing style where oak plays a role but the fruit is pure with fresh and vibrant acidity. Sophisticated savoury notes lead to a complex finish.</p>

<p>Perfumed and vivacious, displaying notes of blackberry jam, violet and liquorice. Hibiscus flowers join crunchy red apple and black fruits on the palate. A super-ripe wine with a refined structure.</p>