2010 Hand of God Wines Fingerprint Series Red Wine Sobremesa Vineyard

The 2010 Fingerprint Series Red Blend is a blend of 55% Malbec, 35% Syrah and 10% Petit Verdot aged in 50% new oak and 50% second fill. It has a very ripe, glossy bouquet that is loaded with glycerine. Notes of sloes, kirsch and fresh dates all vie for attention, combining to create a heady and attention grabbing bouquet. The palate is viscous on the entry. The tannins are bold but fine and support the multi-layered black fruit laced with dark chocolate, black pepper and a touch of sage. The texture is silky smooth, while the finish is impressive in terms of its composure and delineation, with a sprinkle of white pepper lingering on the aftertaste. Drink 2014-2020. (N.B. There will be a White Blend, which I have not tasted yet.) I am not sure whether naming your wine after a blatant handball that cost England a place in the semi-finals of the 1986 World Cup is in good taste. I had to resist the temptation to slate the wines. Annoyingly, their quality prevented me from doing so. The company was founded by no less than Santiago Achavel (see Achaval Ferrer) and his classmate and Stanford Business School, Jon Staenberg. The vines were bought next to those of “Vines of Mendoza.” The inaugural vintage is coming Stateside in late 2012 and is worth looking out for. www.handofgodwines.com