About five years into its existence and Colomé has found its groove in this excellent, luscious Malbec-Cabernet blend. The bouquet is exotic and savory, with classic dark-fruit aromas, spice, cocoa and more. Big on the palate, with cassis, wild berry and chocolate flavors, and the finish is big, ripe and sturdy. Good now through 2013.
— M.S.
(8/1/2009)
Here’s one heck of a black, saturated wine. Cola and tar aromas abound, while the palate is borderline medicinal due to its extreme ripeness. If you like a rich, sun-drenched red with heft and body, this is it. The blend is 80% Malbec and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and it hails from vines with up to 150 years of history behind them. Weighs in at a whopping 15.5%.
— M.S.
(12/1/2006)
This new wine from Donald Hess of the Hess Collection is a big, bold mix of black cherry and currants. It’s ripe and cushioned by full tannins and a lot of spirit. The blend is 66% Malbec, 20% Cabernet and 14% Tannat from high-altitude vineyards in Salta. Will go nicely with steak and other meat dishes. A truly excellent, modern-styled Argentine red.
— M.S.
(12/1/2006)
Much better and way more complex than your average Torrontés. The bouquet is flower power, lychee and tangerine, and overall this is an exotic, driving wine like no other from Argentina. Expect roundness and similarities to Viognier; it's amplified and impressive.
— M.S.
(8/1/2009)
Big, dark, sweet and jammy on the nose, with earthy, candied, sweet aromas of ripe blackberry and herbs. The palate delivers bouncy, showy acidity, while the flavors of black cherry, dark plum and chocolate are solid and rewarding. A little pruney on deeper inspection, with a leathery quality to the wine’s depth. Drink now through 2013.
— M.S.
(3/1/2011)
Normally a wine with this score and price would earn front-line Best Buy status. But because it’s brand new and total production is only 600 cases, you’re going to have to work to find it. But if you do, expect a melon-driven wine with clean lines, good acidity and a long finish. It’s refined Torrontés; aromatic and complex to the point that you might mistake it…
— M.S.
(12/1/2006)
If an intense style of Malbec is not your thing, then keep searching because this is intense in every way. The bouquet is dark and sun-drenched, with berry jam, leather and bacon aromas. The mouth shows huge blackberry, blueberry and black olive tastes, and the finish is warm and earthy, with espresso blackness. Shows every bit of its 14.9% alcohol but can handle it.
— M.S.
(8/1/2008)
This opens with attractive balsam wood and cedar aromas as well as graphite, licorice and earthy blackberry. It feels plump, lush and deep, with flavors of blackberry, black plum, balsamic and spice. Not overtly oaky, this is a fruity, balanced effort.
— M.S.
(8/1/2012)