Very balanced. Soft tannins and ripe tannins, present in enough quantity for the wines to have structure and skeleton. Piercing and haunting aromas. More mineral character and terroir specificity than any recent vintage!

Colors and flavors pure and intense. This wine complements our vision of Malbec, Mendoza's flagship strain, we wish to honor. We seek to emphasize the unique characteristics of this varietal. Our work in the vineyards highlights the dominance of leaf (canopy) on the root system, and highlights the life of the fruit. Our goal is to preserve the varietal. This is the first step in the Malbec, which continues in a trilogy up with Chimera - a blend of design or wine-and then Finca Altamira and Finca Bella Vista Ranch Mirador, expressions of terroir Mendocino. The wine was aged for 9 months in French oak barrels. We put special emphasis on preserving the necessary balance between wood and fruit without losing its spontaneity.

WA 91  The 2010 Malbec was sourced from three vineyards, two of which are 66 and 86 years of age, with the wine aged for 9 months in French oak. It is a super-fragrant offering featuring racy red fruits, spice box, incense, and floral notes. Pure, sweetly-fruited, and elegant in the glass, this intense, lengthy Malbec can be approached now and over the next 6-8 years. -Jay Miller, Wine Advocate #198 Dec 2011, Drink: 2011 - 2019, 91 Points