Hand of God Wines Fingerprint Series Sobremesa Vineyard UB2 2012, Mendoza, Argentina

It’s time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let’s bring Merlot back!

Dark purple /inky in color with a short reddish rim.

Very dry on the palate with medium plus acidity.

Showing black currants, dried figs, raisins, over ripen cherries, light oak, licorice, light vanilla, spices, mildew, chocolates, tobacco leaf, bitter herbs, light earth, cola and peppercorn.

Long finish with soft tannins and raspberries.

This 11 year old, Single Vineyard, Merlot blend from Argentina is still drinking nicely, although not in its peak anymore. I’ve been meaning to drink it for a few years, but so much wine, so little time… 😉

Showing nice complexity with an elegant mouthfeel. Feels like an older Right Bank Bordeaux. Interesting stuff.

A little off now, and lost much of the fruits, but still enjoyable especially with food.

Good right out of the bottle and did not change much with airtime. Alcohol is well integrated by now.

A small production of only 26 barrels produced.

A blend of 50% Merlot and 50% Cabernet Franc.

14.9% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$45.

Tamarelli Vineyards Cabernet Franc 2020, Mendoza, Argentina

Dark purple in color with a wide purplish rim.

Nose of blueberries, red currants, black cherries, herbs, vegetables, earth, oak, licorice and black pepper.

Full bodied with medium acidity.

Dry and fruity on the palate with black plums, cooked cherries, oak, light vanilla, vegetables, tobacco leaf, dark chocolates, earth, spices, bitter herbs and peppercorn.

Medium finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.

This young Cabernet Franc from Mendoza is starting to drink nicely now.

Good right out of the bottle, and gets earthier as it opens up. Fruit forward and spicy.

Showing nice complexity already, and enjoyable by itself or with food.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 7 years.

I paired it with a beautiful day by the lake.

100% Cabernet Franc grapes were aged in New French oak barrels for 18 months. A tiny production of only 300 bottles.

14.4% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$37.

Malbado Malbec 2019 Mendoza, Argentina

Deep purple in color with a purplish rim.

Strong nose of candied cherries, black plums, light oak, spices, earth, cocoa, herbs and tobacco leaf.

Full bodied with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with black plums, black currants, coffee, oak, cloves, spices, earth, light vegetables, pencil lead, tobacco leaf and peppercorn.

Tangy finish with soft tannins.

This young Malbec from Mendoza is already very approachable. Easy drinking and good by itself. Fruit forward and tasty.

Good right out of the bottle, and gets earthier after an hour in the decanter. Tangy and interesting.

Would be nice to revisit it in 3 years.

A good everyday wine that will pair nicely with grilled meats. I paired it with a Charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

88 points.

$20.

Valle Las Nencias Family Selection Malbec 2014, Mendoza, Argentina

Valle Las Nencias Family Selection Malbec 2014, Mendoza, Argentina

Dark purple/ ruby in color with a wide reddish/ brick rim.

Fruity nose with black currants, black plums, blueberries, light wood, spices, tobacco, earth, herbs, bitter vegetables and barnyard.

Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with cherries, strawberries, sweet raspberries, tobacco, herbs, spices, earth and peppercorn.

Tangy finish with very fine tannins.

This is a good everyday wine from Argentina. Tangy with a soft mouthfeel. Showing mild complexity at this point.

Needs time to open up properly, and remove some of the acidity. I gave it 90 minutes.

This 7 year old is still drinking nicely, but it is not going to last too long, so drink up.

Good by itself and better with food.
I paired it with cheeses and olives.

100% Malbec grapes were grown at 3,200 feet of elevation and hand harvested. Aged for 12 months in French oak barrels. A small production of only 3,000 bottles.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

88 points.

$19.

Abito Wines Malbec 2019 Mendoza, Argentina

Dark purple in color with a purplish rim.

Fruity nose of blackberries, sweet plums, black currants, chocolates, light wood and spices.

Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cooked cherries, oak, licorice ,spices, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, earth and vegetables.

Soft tannins on the finish with spices.

This is a nice Malbec from Mendoza. Tangy and easy drinking.

Showing a soft mouthfeel with mild complexity.

A good everyday wine and good for parties. Fruit forward and very approachable young.

I paired it with BBQ Meats.

100% Malbec grapes were aged in French oak barrels for 8 months. A small production of only 5,000 bottles made.

14.3% alcohol by volume.

88 points.

$19.

Mosquita Muerta Wines Perro Callejero Blend de Malbec 2018, Mendoza, Argentina

Dark ruby/purple in color with a short purple rim.

Strong nose of black plums, black currants, coffee, oak, cloves, earth, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, light bone fire smoke, herbs and black pepper.

Full bodied with medium acidity and nice legs.

Dry and very fruity on the palate with blackberries, black plums, cooked cherries, oak, vanilla, black pepper, chocolates, coffee, licorice, spices, light tobacco and earth.

Medium finish with soft tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a nice everyday wine from Mendoza, Argentina. Easy drinking and spicy, with a nice mouthfeel.

Good right out of the bottle and better with airtime. I gave it a few hours in a decanter to open up and show some complexity.

A nice porch wine that I paired with cheeses and crackers.

100% Malbec grapes were grown at 3,000 feet of elevation. Partially aged for six months in French Oak barrels.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

88 points.

$16.

Obra Prima Maximus Malbec 2014 Mendoza, Argentina

This is a very tasty six-year-old Malbec from Mendoza. Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel.

Showing black fruits with vegetables, light vanilla, spices, black olives, earth, bitter herbs, barnyard, wood, tobacco, dark coffee and black pepper.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity and soft tannins.

I had it before, and this time I had it right out of the bottle, and it was really nice.

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with a cheese plate.

A blend of 80% Malbec, 10% Syrah and 10% Cabernet Franc.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

Mascota Vineyards Eccentric Merlot 2018, Argentina

Time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday.

Purple in color with a wide purplish rim.

Fruity nose of blueberries, plums, spices, light tobacco and peppercorn.

Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with plums, black cherries, blueberries, spices, light wood, earth, chocolates and black pepper.

Medium on the finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a nice and easy drinking Merlot from Argentina. Feels more like a California Merlot.

Tasty and simple. Good by itself or with food. I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

87 Points.

$10.

Bodegas Arraigo Benegas Old Vines Red Blend 2010 Mendoza, Argentina

#AgedWineTuesday

it’s been 7 weeks in self quarantine, so we decided that enough is enough, and we’re going to meet by the lake, and have some wine and cheeses (6 ft from each other of course).

This is a gorgeous 10 year old Bordeaux blend from Argentina. Earthy, with lots of fruits to balance it out.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, cooked cherries, raisins, vanilla, oak, licorice, spices chocolates, tobacco, coke, vegetables, bell pepper, earth, wet leaves, herbs and peppercorn.

Full bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Long finish with round tannins and tangy cherries.

This 10 year old is showing great complexity and mouthfeel at this point. Probably at its peak.

Needs a couple of hours to open up properly and show more complexity and structure. Started to decline after 4 hours, but there was not much left.

Thanks for sharing, Wendy.

This Old Vine Cuvee is much different than their regular blend, the complexity (and price) reflect that. A Delicious wine.

A blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Cabernet Franc, 15% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. Aged in French Oak barrels for 18 months. Vines were planted at the beginning of the last century.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$50.

Clos de Los Siete 2015 Mendoza, Argentina

Dark inky in color with a short purple rim.

Fruity nose with black currants, cherries, earth, leather, tobacco, oak, vanilla, cloves, dark coffee, pencil lead, vegetables, spices, metals and peppercorn.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with black currants, blackberries, earth, dark chocolates, tobacco, spices, oak, vanilla, licorice, cloves, herbs, coffee and peppercorn.

Spicy finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a very enjoyable 5 year old Malbec blend from Argentina by Michel Rolland.

Showing nice complexity and a great mouthfeel. Nice to have all by itself or with food. A good sipping wine.

Good right out of the bottle and better as it opens up, and shows some tannins.

Wine Spectator 91 points.

A blend of 58% Malbec, 23% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Syrah and 1% Petit Verdot.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$16.