Argentina Red Wines

wines

The old River Stones has seen its name simplified to 2019 Adrianna Vineyard River. This is an exceptional vintage for this bottling, from a very stony part of the large Adrianna Vineyard in Gualtallary, close to the dry river. It’s the equivalent to the White Stones white, with a north-facing exposure, the warmer exposure, which in cooler years like 2019 works nicely. The wine has harmony and subtleness, insinuating violets and wet stones, with a rare combination of power and elegance, with minerality and spice, precise, focused and harmonious. The tannins are abundant but very fine and ripe with a chalky sensation in the finish. It has 13.8% alcohol and very good freshness, acidity and healthy parameters. 5,520 bottles were filled in December 2020.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 99 RPSo bright and aromatic with flowers and blackberries, as well as some black olives. Full-bodied with lots of tannins, yet they are so fine and integrated and spread across the palate. This is all whole-cluster fermentation and 18 months in large oak casks. Needs about four or five years to come together.James Suckling | 98 JSThe 2019 Malbec Adrianna Vineyard River Stone comes from a parcel off the Adrianna Vineyard in Gualtallary, planted at an altitude of 4,400 feet in a dried river bed. Aged for 20 months in new and used French barrels, it is a rich purple in the glass thanks to the intense sunlight. The nose offers plum, sour cherry and blueberry with herbs, lavender, hints of balsam and oaky aromas such as cedar and sandalwood. The compact palate has fine, taut tannins; more lean than muscular overall. This is a balanced and remarkably energetic high-altitude wine, all solar energy, concentrated soils and the untrammeled freshness that comes with a cool region.Vinous Media | 97 VM

Cheval des Andes continues its steady ascent towards the summit of the very best and most sought-after New World reds. I tasted this wine over the space of a day and was very close to giving it 100 points. Made from an equal blend of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon, it combines fruit from Las Compuertas and Paraje Altamira to brilliant effect. Aged in 50% new barrels and foudres,it’s effortlessly complex and detailed, with refined tannins,graphite and cut grass aromas, cassis and bramble flavours and remarkable palate length. Drink till 2040.Tim Atkin | 99 TAThe 2019 Cheval des Andes had a more reductive vinification and élevage, making the wine a bit shy and in need of time to open up, as one of their objectives was to make it more age-worthy. Another objective is to get to a 50/50 blend of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon, which they achieved in this vintage for the first time, going back to the initial character of the wine that was the idea of Argentinean winemaker Roberto de la Mota; so, they are closing the circle and going back to the initial idea, with more implication from the Cheval Blanc team. This is the first vintage fully under the charge of the new French winemaker, Gerald Gabillet, who fermented by plot, isolating some specific parts of the vineyard, like the borders where you tend to get higher yields because of the irrigation. It matured in 225- and 400-liter oak barrels and in oak vats. They used more barrels and vats from Stockinger, which they like and rotate; the wine spends an average of 13 to 14 months in oak, but some lots get 11 months and others get 16. 2019 was a mild vintage, cooler than 2017 and warmer than 2018, with rain at the right time, which helped to avoid hydric stress, and without extremes (which they had in 2020 with three weeks of extreme heat). The wine is young and tender and a bit oaky, which Gerald attributed to the reductiveness; it’s ripe without excess, with around 14.2% alcohol, mellow acidity and velvety tannins. There’s more Cabernet here, so the aromatic expression can be something between 2017 and 2018, but Cabernet marks the palate a lot and makes the wine more age-worthy, as it provides the structure and length that the Malbec lacks. So, the wine might be less accessible when young and should develop slowly in bottle. It’s tasty and supple and has the ingredients and the balance for what they are aiming for. In the following vintages, they follow this path, and Gabillet feels that having more precision allows the wines to reflect the differences between vintages better. They keep producing around 100,000 bottles. It was bottled in late January 2021. The way they want to describe the wine is the Argentinean expression of Cheval Blanc. And I can only agree.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 98 RPThe 2019 Cheval des Andes is a 50/50 blend of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon from Las Compuertas and Paraje Altamira, Mendoza. The 2019 was 40% aged in 225-liter barrels, 40% in 500-liter barrels and 20% in foudres. It’s red with violet flecks in the glass. It has a fresh nose of plum and blackcurrant accompanied by hints of white pepper, mint and violets over a bed of cedar and sandalwood. On the palate, the feel is finely grained with a leaner, more agile flow than in previous years, while the freshness brings plenty of energy before the lengthy finish of fruit and country herb aromas.Vinous Media | 97 VMA refined but spicy Cheval, showing charcoal, blueberries, wild herbs, lavender and hints of bacon and cedar. Medium to full body with extremely fine tannins that get dialed into the fruit with violet, spices and sweet blue fruit at the end. Long and subtle. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 97 JSSmooth and so seductive, I love the texture here, supple but silky. Tannis give structure and support and the focus is on perfumed red and black fruits with a richness and concentration yet liveliness from sharp acidity. It doesn’t feel at all heavy but sintilates with fragrance and freshness. Easy to drink, lovely detail on show - blackcurrants, red cherries, violets with vanilla and liquorice hints. Very smooth and charming while still being a full wine. This has extreme delectability. Great winemaking on show. Drinking Window: 2025 - 2045Decanter | 96 DEC

The 2021 Malbec originates from a 1932 plot planted in Mainqué, Río Negro, and underwent aging for up to two years in barriques and 500-liter French oak barrels. It was born in the cool and balanced 2021 vintage. Vivid purple-red in hue, the inviting nose reveals delicate notes of fresh plum, elderberry and violet, complemented by hints of chamomile and sweetbriar over a subtle layer of cedar. Dry and juicy, with fine-grained tannins, it stands out as one of the most flavorful Noemías I’ve ever tasted. With an additional year in the bottle, it will become even silkier and deeper. I would love to revisit it in five years.Vinous Media | 98 VM

Just a whisper short of perfection,this is a typically elegant, nuanced Malbec from one of Argentina’sgreatest winemakers. Made in a hot year — although you wouldn’t know it — it comes from parcelswithin the 1932 vineyard that are richer in clay and silt. Deftly matured in older oak, it’s alluringlyperfumed, with wafts of violet and rose water, graceful, sculpted tannins and flavours of plum, blackcherry and goji berry. The finish is fresh, focused and very long. Delicious.Tim Atkin | 99 TAThe 2022 Malbec Noemía, produced in Mainqué, Río Negro, showcases Hans Vinding-Diers’ exceptional interpretation of this old-vine Malbec. It was aged for two years in a mix of new and used barrels, plus an additional year in bottle before release. The nose displays field herbs, lavender, violet and a touch of mint as fresh plum and a hint of cedar add complexity. The well-structured palate embodies balance with intricate flavors and elegant tannins. The 2022 is a river-inspired wine with light weight but notable presence, offering long and delicate expression as a fresh finish balances the warm vintage.Vinous Media | 98 VM

Probably the most austere among the three Adrianna Vineyard malbecs. Arresting nose already, with a touch of white pepper to the deep black and blue fruit. Huge depth and profoundness, but at the same time it is so fresh. The difference is more obvious on the palate if you compare this with the Mundus Bacillus Terrae and Fortuna Terrae bottlings. This shows the claws of the mineral tannins, which are a little less fleshy than Mundus, but with more tension. Seamless, taut and long. Drink from 2026.James Suckling | 99 JSThe 2022 Adrianna Vineyard Malbec River squarely occupies the most ethereal, lifted and weightless expression of Malbec in the Catena Zapata roster. It opens with a floral, lively and open-knit bouquet that hints at the stony, mineral-tinged tension to follow on the palate. In the mouth, it displays a taut, spry and gently succulent texture that is deceptively rich and powerful despite its nimble nature, releasing into a persistent, long and unwaveringly focused finish. This is a perfect counterpoint to the more robust Malbec Mundus Bacillus Terrae bottling and will appeal to readers seeking nuance and minerality above all else.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 98+ RPThe 2022 Malbec Adrianna Vineyard River was aged for up to 21 months in French oak barrels. This was sourced from a terroir-driven plot, planted in 1992 in Gualtallary, Tupungato, on an old riverbed. The aromas reveal blackberry and ripe plum, with hints of grass, cherry, arugula, lavender and sage, complemented by black tea and herbal tension. This raw Malbec features chalky intensity and a fine, compact expression. It is well defined and exhibits a reductive character, making it quite intriguing. This very seductive and long-lasting high-elevation Malbec evokes the elegance of a Pinot Noir.Vinous Media | 98 VMThis elegant and expressive Malbec captivates with its refined structure. Grapes from the winery’s Adrianna vineyard in the Uco Valley contribute to a wine with a delicate nose of herbs, cassis and spices. There is tension on the palate, where silky tannins and invigorating acidity frame vibrant layers of meaty plums, blackberries and herbal notes. Drink or hold through 2037. Wine Enthusiast | 97 WEThe 2022 Malbec River Adrianna Vineyard is concentrated and grippy, with considerable earthy character and a touch of herb and black tea. The fruit is dark and brooding as well, kept buoyantly fresh on the palate by the natural acidity that buzzes underneath, the tannins smooth and supple and well-resolved. Cellar through 2037.Jeb Sunnuck | 96 JDA touch restrained, but with talc, mountain herb and brambly berry details to the fresh and lively core, with a mineral coating to the red currant, Rainer cherry and raspberry flavors that lengthen around the well-spiced finish and structured tannins. Best from 2026 through 2040. 460 cases made, 225 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 93 WS

Deep brooding nose with a touch of cocoa powder to the deep, fresh blueberries, chiles and chocolate. Impeccable chalky tannins confer structure and resolve. Full-bodied but super fresh and bright, with a long, long finish. Need two or three years at least to let complexity come through. 100% whole cluster. Drink from 2027.James Suckling | 98 JSThe 2022 Malbec Adrianna Vineyard Fortuna Terrae was planted in 1992 at 1,340 meters above sea level on calcareous soils. Purple in hue, it features intense aromas of blackberry, plum and lavender, alongside notes of licorice. Dry and juicy, the compact palate is enhanced by elevated acidity, creating a balanced mouthfeel that lingers with floral and blackberry tones. The overall aesthetic is slightly raw with a chalky nuance, delivering delicate yet intense flavors. Fortuna Terrae embodies the character of a high-elevation Malbec.Vinous Media | 97 VMFrom a particular parcel of the vineyard special for its deep soils, white stones, and south-facing exposures, the medium to full-bodied 2022 Malbec Fortuna Terrae Adrianna Vineyard offers a wealth of high-toned red fruit, subtle spice, and graphite components, given 100% whole-cluster fermentation to highlight its natural acidity. After extended cold maceration to boost its invitingly floral, earthy aromatics, it aged 14-18 months in French oak barrels, some of them larger format.Jeb Dunnuck | 97 JDThe 2022 Adrianna Vineyard Malbec Fortuna Terrae is pure, floral, herbal and elegant on the nose, followed by a svelte, soft and richly textured palate enlivened with an increasingly electric core of acidity. It concludes with a solid, vibrant finish framed by refined, discreet tannins, gradually gaining length and dimension with time in the glass. This is a fantastic cornerstone of the upper echelon of Catena Zapata Malbecs and a lovely midpoint between the more lifted and ethereal River and the more sumptuous Mundus Bacillus Terrae bottlings.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 96+ RPThis elegant version leads with fresh lilac and mineral aromas. The palate is polished yet defined, with precise mineral tension to the generous core of cherry and Santa Rosa plum flavors. Subtle guava details chime in and everything seems to swell midpalate around fresh acidity and carry onto the finish around fine tannins. Drink now through 2040. 490 cases made, 175 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 95 WS

The more ethereal and mineral-tinged of the two Altamira single-plot bottlings, the 2022 Jardín de Hormigas Los Amantes hails from limestone gravel soils with less topsoil than the Meteroa bottling. It leads with an expressive yet coiled nose that dynamically gains dimension with every swirl. While also exuding the floral, lifted bouquet typical of Altamira, there is austerity and focus here that sets it apart from the Meteora bottling. This difference is fully realized on the palate, where a compelling combination of sleek, polished focus and mineral-drenched lift releases into a soaring, discreetly juicy finish that lingers with crushed-stone nuances, managing a completeness that is rare in such overtly mineral-driven wines, which can easily feel like they are lacking depth. That couldn’t be farther from the case here. This is a stunning, definitive and transparent example of Altamira Malbec rendered in high definition.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 98+ RP

The 2022 Cheval des Andes is a significant upgrade to Mendoza’s historic regional blends, combining grapes from Las Compuertas (Luján de Cuyo) and Paraje Altamira (Uco Valley). The 2022 vintage allowed for a slower ripening of Cabernet Sauvignon, which take prominence in this blend alongside 30% Malbec and 5% Petit Verdot...A bouquet of bright fruit—raspberry, blueberry and delicate cassis—and complementary bay leaf and mint tones give way to a touch of ash and mild bell pepper. Boasting serious concentration, fine tannins and a slight creaminess, the 2022 has a structure that is firm but never tight, maintaining weight without losing balance. The finish is long, energetic and full of flavor. This is an exceptionally beautiful wine. Drink: 2026-2042.Vinous Media | 99 VMEarthy, savoury nose full of wet soil, peppercorns and blackcurrants alongside violets, chocolate, cherries and raspberries. Well crafted, such a svelte and streamlined expression with real charm and finesse. There’s power for sure but it’s funnelled into one line from start to finish. I love the brightness and opulence here yet there’s super charm and precision too. Great energy, succulence and vibrancy with natural acidity creating a salivating effect that makes you want to come back for another glass. Expertly made with an accumulation of details that make it so enjoyable. The joint project of Château Cheval Blanc and Terrazas de los Andes. Winemaker Gérald Gabillet.Decanter Magazine | 98 DECAromas of dark currants, spices, cloves and a touch of elderberries. The palate is elegant and medium- to full-bodied with polished, precise tannins, firm fruit, a juicy backbone and a solid and flavorful finish. 65% cabernet sauvignon and 35% malbec from Lujan and Altamira. Drink from 2027.James Suckling | 98 JSSoon to be released through La Place de Bordeaux, the 2022 Cheval des Andes opens with an exotic, spice-driven bouquet, supplemented by lifted herbal notes and a vibrantly red-fruited and perfumed backdrop. The palate is similarly energetic, melding an elegantly rich, polished texture with a slender, tensile energy. It concludes with a long, persistent and high-toned finish that gradually unfurls a sturdy structure of supremely refined tannins. This is an excellent counterpoint to the comparatively darker and more open-knit 2021, showcasing a brighter, more tenacious profile while sacrificing none of the grace, nuance and textural attention to detail that has come to define Cheval des Andes. It’s a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Malbec and 5% Petit Verdot.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 97 RPSupremely structured and rather muscular in style, this offers a loam and iron base, juxtaposed against subtle floral and dried thyme notes that mix with a dense, compact core of cherry and Santa Rosa plum. For all this muscle, there’s finesse on the finish, with mace and floral red currant details lingering around well-formed tannins. Built to cellar. Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Petit Verdot. Best from 2036 through 2040. 8,333 cases made, 1,600 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 94 WSA partnership between Château Cheval Blanc and Terrazas De Los Andes, the 2022 Cheval Des Andes blends 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Malbec, and 5% Petit Verdot. Iron and gunpowder aromatics dominate, with a supple tension to the tannins and well-integrated oak. This will drink well over the next 12-15 years.Jeb Dunnuck | 94 JD