If you are looking for a gutsy, traditional style, terroir-driven Malbec bottling (something we come across less and less in these days of heavy extraction and new oak), you will be thrilled. While the wine shows plenty of the delicious boysenberry and plum fruit that make this varietal so popular, it is the wine’s beguiling earthy, mushroomy notes and slippery texture that make it memorable. The timing cannot be better, as Carmelo’s Malbec is perfect with fall foods – think roast chicken with fresh chantrelles or pumpkin risotto with guanciale.
Alberti 154 08 Malbec W.S. Daily Wine Pick
90 Points For Durigutti 2007 Malbec (WS)
“Quite ripe and toasty, with a hefty dose of mocha and coffee laid over the fleshy dark plum, currant and blackberry fruit. This stays toasty through the finish, but it’s well-integrated, with the fruit an equal match. Drink now through 2010.” 5,800 cases made. –JM
Tabali 2008 Sauvignon Blanc Now In Stock!
After much anticipation, the 2008 vintage of Tabali Sauvignon Blanc Reserva is here. Load up the station wagon, as you will want to have this around all summer!
“The 2008 Sauvignon Blanc Reserva is a great value. It exhibits a fragrant bouquet of mineral, passion fruit, and citrus. This leads to a mouth-watering, vibrant, lengthy Sauvignon that way over-delivers for its humble price. Tabali is producing high quality wines from the newly developing cool-climate region of Limari. 90 Points.” – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, Issue 182
Wine Spectator gives 90 Points to Ca de Calle 2007 Gran Reserva
“Very polished, with a suave mocha note weaving through the crushed red plum, raspberry and boysenberry fruit, backed by a spicy note on the velvety finish. Drink now. 500 cases made.” –JM
Mendoza Harvest 2009
2009 harvest in Mendoza, Argentina is looking good so far. Flower set had some isolated issues with frost and winds earlier in the year, but it hasn’t made much of a difference except for lowering final harvest yields. A hot February pushed sugars to early heights, but things have thus far mellowed and overall tannic ripeness is coming along quickly now. In some cases, some vineyards are about a week early compared to average, in other cases, harvest dates will be about even with average. Colors are showing in the winery to be intense and dark, early on in the ferments. With yields down, we are hoping that concentrations in fruit flavors will be even more intense than last year. Luckily, the harvest has been great with no rain and with warm days and cool nights. Higher altitudes may prove to be the winners this year as they were less affected by the warm summer.
Tanzer gives 91 Points to 05 Durigutti Malbec Reserva!
2005 Durigutti Malbec Reserva, Mendoza
“Bright ruby-red. Complex, soil-driven aromas of blackberry, spices, licorice and fresh herbs; perfumed and enticing. Then juicy and intense in the mouth, with a crushed cassis flavor complicated by licorice and violet. A densely packed wine that’s long on personality. Finishes with big, broad, dusty tannins and impressive lingering sweetness. An outstanding value.” (International Wine Cellar, Jan 2009)
Carmelo Patti 04 Sparkling
Caren and Jordan at “Our Vino of the Day” posted some kind words about Carmelo Patti’s 2004 Sparkling Wine. After reading their blog, it looks like we are in good company. Check them out:
ourvino.blogspot.com/2009/01/2004-carmelo-patti-sparkling-wine-this
Ca de Calle 2007 Gran Reserva
By now you have likely tasted through the 2007 vintage Albert 154 wines. If sales are any indication, they are by far the best wines we have ever produced in our small Lujan de Cuyo based winery. In early 2007 we separated out and fermented a small selection of our best grapes from that harvest, aging the microcuvees with a combination of new and used French oak. Luis Barraud (of Vina Cobos fame) went on to finish the project, assembling the final blend this summer. Now that the wine has had some time to settle in bottle, this blend of 32% Malbec, 23% Bonarda, 21% Syrah, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 8% Merlot is drinking fabulously, filled with the dense rustic flavors of dark fruits and berries that typify this region.
We named the wine Ca’ de Calle (Calle’s Place), in honor of Elivra Calle, the woman who shared our vision of remodeling this historic winery and helped turn it into reality.
Production is limited to 550 cases.
– Jeff
More Great Press!
Here is a taste of just some of the new reviews heading to press from top publications.
Wine Spectator:
Durigutti 2004 Malbec Familia – 92 pts
Durigutti 2006 Malbec Clasico – 89 pts
Wine Enthusiast:
Durigutti 2006 Bonarda – 87 pts, Best Buy
Martino 2003 Malbec Reserva – 91 pts
Paris Goulart 2006 Malbec/Cabernet Reserva – 90 pts
Wine & Spirits:
Carlos Basso 2004 Signature Blend – 92 pts
Martino 2003 Malbec Reserva – 91 pts
Goulart 2007 Malbec Reserva – 91 pts
Casa Rivas 2006 Carmenere Gran Reserva – 90 pts
Durigutti 2006 Malbec Clasico – 89 pts, Best Buy
Tabali 2006 Reserva Especial Red Blend – 90 pts
We expect these wines to move – please order as soon as possible to avoid outages.
– Jeff
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