Finca Sophenia, Reserve Malbec, Uco Valley, Gualtallary 2016

Finca Sophenia is the creation of Roberto Luka, sometime president of Wines of Argentina, its name from an amalgam of daughters Sophie and Eugenia. Rogelio Rabino is head winemaker, with Matías Michelini in a consulting role. The vines are spread over 130ha of sandy and rocky soils at an altitude of 1,200m. Among their most treasured holdings here are the plantings of low-yielding Malbec clones. Following fermentation, the grapes are macerated with the skins for 10 days, after which the wines spend around a year in oak. Phil Crozier: Very deep and dark aromas unfold onto a palate flaunting a breathtaking concentration of fruit. Looks, feels and tastes expensive. Paz Levinson: Intense aromas of floral-tinged black cherry and blueberry fruit, with a beautiful length and elegance of herbal and floral black fruit on the palate. Patricio Tapia: This is absolutely what Gualtallary should deliver: a feast of fruit and flowers, bright acidity and bags of tension.