2008 Mendel Malbec

Wine Advocate
"91 pts ...Medium purple in color with legs that coat the glass, it reveals a lovely nose of Asian spices, incense, lavender, black cherry, and black raspberry. Supple, ripe, and round on the palate with medium- to full-body, layered fruit, and excellent balance, it has the structure to evolve for 1-2 years but can be approached now. Mendel, where the talented Roberto de la Mota presides as winemaker, has an outstanding set of new releases including one white wine."

Wine Spectator
"'Wines of the Year, Matt Kramer' ... The "surprise" of Mendel Malbec is its detailed austerity, a feature rare in Malbecs in Argentina. The flavor is as substantial as Argentina's best. Bet the delivery is Savile Row-restrained... The 2008 vintage made some exceptional wines in Mendoza, including this one-- vibrant yet restrained, polished and detailed, with a discernible minerality. This is a Malbec for those for whom classified-growth Bordeaux is the benchmark. It's that refined-- and that good."

Winemaker's Notes
"Incredible dark red/purple color. The aromas of sweet French oak and espresso get more complex with every swirl of the glass, unveiling black plum, ripe raspberry, and violet aromas. The wine is full-bodied, dense, deep and chewy with flavors of black raspberry, plums, roasted herb, and caramel notes. This beauty could be enjoyed now with a nice ribeye steak or leg of lamb since it shows incredible balance for such a concentrated wine."

Technical Notes
"100% Malbec from 83 year old vines grown at 3200'. Aged 12 months in 40% new, 60% second use French Tauransad oak. 13.9% alc."