Casarena Estate Malbec 2012

90 pts Stephen Tanzer's IWC (ST)- originally $16.99

Tasting Notes

Intense color with purple notes, brilliant and attractive color. Nose with flower notes and fresh fruit. Sweet entrance in the mouth, great volume, freshness and persistency.

Awards, Reviews and other Notes

90 pts Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar (ST)
Article:Why should you care? Malbec is Argentina’s calling card in the U.S. market, and there are a staggering number of choices available here, the vast majority of them priced under $20. But with so many producers competing for the same customers at the same price point, it’s hardly surprising that there can be a great sameness to these wines, with too many examples showing syrupy dark fruits and overbearing oakiness. If you know where to look, though, you can find more complex and refined examples without paying a premium.
What does it taste like? The Casarena Estate 2012 Malbec is made in the favored Luján de Cuyo sub-region of Mendoza from fruit with less exaggerated ripeness and better natural acidity than this producer’s previous vintages. This deep ruby-red malbec entices with aromas of blackberry, licorice, violet and bitter chocolate complemented but not overwhelmed by sweet oak. It’s sweet and silky on the palate, with its dark berry flavors accented by piquant minerality and a sexy suggestion of white fruits that I sometimes find in malbecs harvested before they lose their delicate high-pitched perfume. Nicely integrated acidity contributes to the impression of lift. My score: 90 points

90 pts Argovino January 2014
There’s a slight reddish tint around the edge of the glass, but have no fear – this is a well crafted wine that’s brimming with flavor and likely to improve with age. Black pepper, cherry pie, strawberry jam and many more make appearances, with an attractive richness that’s not heavy if also not particularly structured

Winemaker Notes

Alluvial soils irrigated with water from the Andes Mountain Range. 950 meters above sea level. Vineyard conducted by VSP trellis system, thinning of early shoots to regulate the production and allow a correct positioning of these, rational thinning of the clusters, morning sunlight reception to complete its maturation, analytic control of physiological and polyphenolic maturity, planned harvest based on grape tasting in the vineyard. Double selection of grape clusters and berries, destemmer, gentle crushing, free run juice, fermentation with autochthonous yeasts, prolonged maceration based on tastings, spontaneous malolactic fermentation, soft pressing of pomace, auto clarifying racking, natural stabilization, bottling in winery.

Chemical Analysis

Price

SKU

Varietal

Alcohol: 14.7%

$6.99

10499

Malbec