Dona Paula Seleccion de Bodega Malbec 2016
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Robert
Parker -
James
Suckling
Product Details
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Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Deep violet color. Aromas of berries, with graphite, black cherries and spices notes. Great concentration, firm tannins, fresh acidity and long finish.
Pair with Malbec-flavored veal ribs with bacon, green beans and small Andean potatoes. A full-bodied dish needs a wine with the same characteristics.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Since the 2015 vintage, this wine has been produced with grapes from their estate vineyards in Gualtallary, and 30% of the volume is from head-pruned vines. I tasted the 2016 Selección de Bodega Malbec next to the 2017, so it was easy to see the differences in the character of the year, as the vinification and élevage were similar: fermentation in small stainless steel tanks with selected yeasts and then matured in 50% new French oak barrels for 20 months. This is 13.5% alcohol, quite moderate. Funnily enough, I found the oak more evident here than in the 2017; it's a bit ashy in a kind of Bordeaux blend, more cool climate. There are flowers from the Malbec, and there's nuance and complexity. The palate is medium-bodied, and there's length and balance. 35,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in February 2018 and kept in bottle for one year before it was released
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James Suckling
A quite classically styled nose with cassis and a ripe red-plum core that is framed in assertive, cedary oak. This leads to a quite well proportioned and sturdy palate with bright, blueberry flavors. Drink or hold.
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Established in 1997 in Mendoza, Argentina, Doña Paula is an Estate winery that produces premium wines from the best regions of Argentina, using 100% Estate grown fruit. Dona Paula's history began in 1990, when a period of exhaustive research on the different Argentinean terroirs and their potential to fully express each varietal began. Dona Paula acquired its first vineyard in 1997 in Ugarteche, Lujan de Cuyo, a region in the foothills of the Andes Mountains that is famous for its Malbec. The thorough care for details in the vineyards guarantees a constant quality that shows the clearest expression of each terroir. Vineyards are managed using sustainable agricultural practices, and all wines are vegan friendly and gluten free.
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.