Winemaker Silvio Alberto, working with consultant Michel Rolland, is clearly a proponent of the bigger-is-better school, and he deserves credit for making big wines that are balanced despite being brawny. This high-end Malbec, which is very reasonably priced, blasts with menthol, prune, chocolate and cassis. It’s modern and chewy, but has enough tannin, acid and…
— M.S.
(6/1/2006)
Coconut and inky black fruit melt into an ultrarich and layered bouquet, and that’s the perfect entree to the wine’s sweet, broad, chocolaty black fruit flavors that come with a cool mint accent. Boiled down this is nothing more than a concentrated, bold Malbec that’s sweet, tasty and uncomplicated. Drink now through 2011.
— M.S.
(7/1/2010)
From the beginning you can tell that this Bordeaux-style blend has the requisite components to make the grade. The bouquet offers baking spices, berry and vanilla in large doses, while the palate is ample, fresh and fairly racy. Nothing dull or clumsy here; it’s a balanced, structured wine with aging ability. Drink now or hold through 2009. Imported by Kysela Père…
— M.S.
(6/1/2006)
This is an elegant wine that shows that Argentinean reds can improve with time. Tobacco, clay dust and dry spice comprise the bouquet. It’s tight and well structured in the mouth, with chocolate, herb and baked berry flavors. A chocolaty aftertaste completes the picture. Drink this blend of Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cab Franc now through 2015.
— M.S.
(5/1/2013)
This is a high-quality Malbec with fleshy berry aromas that veer towards raisiny reduction but don’t quite get there. It’s plump and buttery on the palate, with baked berry, plum and herb flavors that lead to a smooth finish with a licorice accent. Drink now through 2017.
— M.S.
(5/1/2013)
Andeluna’s top wines tend to be ripe and plump, and so they come across as easy to drink and less demanding. This blend of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc is devoid of astringency and hard tannins. It’s ripe, just a little rugged, and integrated such that the berry flavors are forward and don’t need to fight to be appreciated.
— M.S.
(8/1/2008)
Great color, extraction and overall balance for an under-$15 wine. There’s slam-bang dark fruit, good mouthfeel, tightness and serious but controlled tannins. Oak plays its role on the back palate and finish, and in the end the wine is as savory and balanced as it is bold and fruity. Drink now through 2010.
— M.S.
(12/1/2008)
Ripe and cushy, with deeply defined fruit aromas that carry enough soft touches to make you want to dig in. Delicate but daring on the palate, with chocolate notes darkening the cassis and cherry flavors. Very round and exceedingly mouthfilling. Imported by Kysela Père et Fils.
— M.S.
(6/1/2006)