Winesale.co.nz – The On-line Wine Merchant – Argentina

FEATURED WINES IN THIS REVIEW

• Michel Torino ‘Coleccion’ Calchaqui Valley Malbec 2017
  Malbec from Argentina

  Review Date : 30-Aug-2017

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Even ruby-red colour with purple hues and some depth, lighter edged. The nose is fresh with bright, vibrant primary fruit aromas of ripe dark plums and raspberry jam. This is up-front, uncomplicated and fruit-focussed. Medium-bodied, the palate is bright, lively and juicy with fresh, up-front primary fruit flavours of dark plums and raspberry with jam and confectionary elements. The fruit and mouthfeel is enlivened by refreshing, brisk acidity, and the wine flows easily. The extraction is modest and provides a supple texture. The wine carries to a juicy, jammy finish. This is an up-front, juicy, easy and supple Malbec with plum, raspberry and jam flavours. Match with pizza, pasta and barbecued fare over the next 2+ years. Fruit from the Calchaqui Valley fermented to 13.0% alc. 15.5/20 Aug 2017 RRP $11.99
• El Esteco ‘Don David’ ‘Reserve’ Calchaqui Valley Malbec 2015
  Malbec from Argentina

  Review Date : 30-Aug-2017

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Dark, deep, purple-hued ruby-red colour, a little lighter on the rim. The nose is elegantly concentrated with good depth of ripe blackberry fruit with notes of raspberries and boysenberries, melded with subtle notes of spice and oak, revealing a little red floral, herb and earthy detail. Medium-full bodied, the palate is a little restrained in flavour expression, showing ripe blackberry, raspberry and boysenberry fruit with nuances of spice, plum jam and oak. The palate has a softly concentrated core with good presence, and is underlined by fine-grained tannin structure and integrated acidity. Nutty oak notes emerge as the wine leads to a sustained finish. This is a softly concentrated Malbec with good depth and weight of ripe blackberry, raspberry and boysenberry flavours on a fine-grained structure. Serve with lamb, beef and venison over the next 5-6 years. Malbec fruit from the Calchaqui Valley, vines over 20 y.o., fermented to 14.0% alc., with 70% of the wine aged 12 months in American and French oak. 17.5/20 Aug 2017 RRP $19.99
• El Esteco ‘Don David’ ‘Reserve’ Calchaqui Valley Tannat 2016
  Other Red from Argentina

  Review Date : 30-Aug-2017

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Dark, deep, near impenetrable purple-hued ruby-red colour, very youthful in appearance. The nose is well-concentrated and packed with tightly bound aromas of fresh black berried fruits entwined with dark herbs, black minerals, some ink and graphite elements. Medium-full bodied, the palate has rich, sweet and ripe flavours of blackberry fruit along with boysenberries, forming a deep heart. The fruit is melded with black minerals and inky notes and is supported by supple but grainy tannin structure with balanced acidity. The fruit richness has underlying power and leads to a lingering, sweet, blackberry finish. This is a rich, sweetly juicy blackberry fruited Tannat with mineral and ink notes on a supple, grainy-textured palate. Match with grilled and barbecued red meat dishes over the next 6+ years. Tannat fruit from the Calchaqui Valley, vines over 20 y.o., fermented to 14.0% alc., with 70% of the wine aged 12 months in American and French oak. 18.0-/20 Aug 2017 RRP $22.99
• El Esteco Calchaqui Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
  Cabernet Sauvignon from Argentina

  Review Date : 30-Aug-2017

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Dark, deep, black-hued ruby-red colour, a little lighter on the rim. The nose is elegantly presented and well-proportioned with deep and concentrated aromas of ripe blackcurrant fruit with cassis liqueur notes, herbs, savoury green olives, and refined, pencilly oak. Full-bodied, the palate features sweetly ripe and well-concentrated flavours of blackcurrants and cassis along with subtle herb notes, nuances of savoury olives and pencilly oak. The mouthfeel is fresh, firm and vibrant with good fine-grained tannin structure and lively, lacy acidity. The flavours flow with drive and energy, leading to a sustained, elegant finish of blackcurrants and herbs. This is an elegantly proportioned and well-concentrated, classical Cabernet Sauvignon with blackcurrant and cassis fruit along with herbs, olives and pencilly oak of a fine, but firm-textured, driven palate. Serve with roast lamb, beef and venison over the next 6-8+ years. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Calchaqui Valley, fermented to 14.5% alc., the wine aged 12 months in new and seasoned American and French oak barrels. 18.5/20 Aug 2017 RRP $29.99
• El Esteco ‘Ciclos’ ‘Icono’ Calchaqui Valley Malbec/Merlot 2013
  Blended Red from Argentina

  Review Date : 30-Aug-2017

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Full, deep, near impenetrable black-red colour. This has a full, broad and voluminous bouquet with deeply packed aromas of blackberries entwined with blackcurrants and black plums, unfolding dark herbs and spice notes, along with black minerals, black ink and cedary oak. Medium-full bodied, the palate has mouthfilling flavours of ripe, blackberry and plum fruit along with notes of herbs with menthol nuances, unfolding mineral and ink elements. The palate possesses an abundance of tannin extraction and structure supporting the fruit,, the wine showing plenty of presence. The acidity is soft, and the wine flows to a textured, firm finish with blackberries, plums, spices and cedar. This is a broad and fulsome Malbec/Merlot blend with ripe blackberry and plum flavours along with mineral and ink on a structured palate. Match with casseroles and slow-cooked game meat dishes over the next 7-9+ years. 50% each Malbec and Merlot from the Calchaqui Valley, fermented to 14.5% alc., the wine aged 15 months in American and French oak. 18.5/20 Aug 2017 RRP $38.99
• El Esteco ‘Chanar Punco’ Calchaqui Valley 2012
  Blended Red from Argentina

  Review Date : 30-Aug-2017

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Full, deep, saturated black-red colour with purple hues, very youthful in appearance. The nose is well-concentrated with intense and deep aromas of ripe blackberry and blackcurrant fruit entwined with cassis liqueur, black plums, boysenberries, herbs and exotic spices, and cedary and pencilly oak. Full-bodied, the palate has very rich and concentrated flavours of ripe blackberries and blackcurrants, melded with cassis and black plums, entwined with spices and exotic new oak cedar and lead-pencil elements. The palate has great power, the alcohol, balanced by the fruit depth, richness and considerable fine-grained, flowery tannin extraction. The concentrated flavours show great drive and linearity, carrying to a very long, lingering, textural finish of black fruits, spices and oak. This is a powerful and concentrated Malbec/Cabernet Sauvignon blend with black fruits, plenty of new oak cedar, great drive and fine-grained structure. Match with roasted and grilled game meat dishes and hard cheeses over the next 10-15 years. A blend of 65% Malbec and 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, fermented to 15.5% alc., the wine aged 18 months in new French barriques. This is a selection of the best 8 barrels. 19.0-/20 Aug 2017 RRP $54.99