Achaval Ferrer Finca Bella Vista Malbec 2011
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Product Details
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Winemaker Notes
All Achaval Ferrer wines are bottled without fining or filtering. formation of deposits in the bottle will be noticeable after some cellaring time. This is no way affects quality. We strongly recommend decanting this wine at least an hour before drinking.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Extraordinary aromas of blackberry and licorice with violets. Full body, with incredible depth of fruit and tension. Phenomenal mouthfeel. So much mineral and dried flowers too. Drink or hold.
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Wine Spectator
Vibrant, with a juicy spark behind the crushed blackberry, blueberry and dark raspberry notes. Well-built, with fine tannins and accents of wildflower, graphite and cured tobacco lingering on the fruit-filled finish.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2011 Malbec Finca Bella Vista is from Perdriel (where they have the winery) at 985 meters above sea level, on the south bank of the Mendoza River. The soils are deep, with abundant gravel. This seems much more subtle and elegant than the Mirador, with finesse and ample fine tannins, the medium-bodied palate is precise, a little incisive, with good acidity. This is concentrated and smooth, powerful and elegant. Drink 2014-2024.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
Hey guys, I would take this wine in heartbeat over some of the world's most expensive Bordeaux style wines, the 2011 Achával-Ferrer Malbec Finca Bella Vista is simply drop-dead gorgeous! I enjoyed this wine with famed Chef Chris Cosentino's Pork Shoulder with Shaved Squash, Blossoms, Thyme, and Red Wine Jus, and my senses haven't stopped talking to me. Incredibly elegant and stylish, yet powerful and determined, this one takes Malbec past the limits of superiority and puts the varietal into a place of international command. Deep ruby blackish color; aromatic red and black fruit flavors, a potpourri of berries and flowers, with a hint of minerality; medium bodied, bitingly fresh on the palate, sweet and terse in the tannin department; dry, excellent acidity, well balanced; a bouquet of red and blackberries on the palate, some mineral notes; long finish, crisp aftertaste. Like a flower, this one is just beginning to unveil itself. (Tasted: August 3, 2015, San Francisco, CA)
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Founded in 1998, Achaval-Ferrer is a team of friends who dream about great wines. Achaval-Ferrer is also a collection of old vineyards in beautiful places. They are committed to the production of wines that are expressive of their terroir. They are a small winery because this is the key to top quality. Low yields allow the vineyards to express their personality in the grapes. Low intervention winemaking allows the grapes to fully express their vineyard in the bottle. Each of their wines is a different expresson of Malbec: The Mendoza Malbec is about varietal tipicity. Their Quimera blend is about Malbec as the key to complexity and balance. And their Fincas (Single Vineyards) are about how Malbec expresses different soils and microclimates.
Celebrated for its bold flavors and supple texture, Malbec has enjoyed runaway success in Argentina since the late 20th century. The grape originated in Bordeaux, France, where it historically contributed color and tannin to blends. A French agronomist, who saw great potential for the variety in Mendoza’s hot, high-altitude landscape, brought Malbec to Argentina in 1868. Somm Secret—If you’re trying to please a crowd, Malbec is generally a safe bet with its combination of dense fruit and soft tannins.
By far the largest and best-known winemaking province in Argentina, Mendoza is responsible for over 70% of the country’s enological output. Set in the eastern foothills of the Andes Mountains, the climate is dry and continental, presenting relatively few challenges for viticulturists during the growing season. Mendoza, divided into several distinctive sub-regions, including Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley, is the source of some of the country’s finest wines.
For many wine lovers, Mendoza is practically synonymous with Malbec. Originally a Bordelaise variety brought to Argentina by the French in the mid-1800s, here it found success and renown that it never knew in its homeland where a finicky climate gives mixed results. Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot and Pinot Noir are all widely planted here as well (and sometimes even blended with each other or Malbec). Mendoza's main white varieties include Chardonnay, Torrontés, Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon.