2009 Achaval-Ferrer Malbec Finca Mirador

(from 70+-year-old malbec vines planted at 2,400 feet; 14 hectoliters per hectare): Good full ruby-red. Vinous aromas of dark berries, licorice, espresso and minerals lifted by violet and rose petal nuances; aeration brought captivating spicy perfume. Densely packed and youthfully imploded, and not quite as black in the mouth as the nose suggests. Penetrating, aromatic flavors of red berries and rose petal convey an almost pinot-like vibrancy. Offers a lovely light touch but has a firm spine for long aging.

The 2009 Finca Mirador was sourced from vines planted in 1921 and yields of 0.9 tons per acre. A glass-coating opaque purple color, it sports a captivating nose of sandalwood, exotic spices, espresso, lavender, black cherry, and black raspberry. Layered on the palate with a velvety texture, it conceals enough structure to evolve for at least 3-4 years. This nicely proportioned effort will deliver prime drinking from 2015 to 2029. Achaval-Ferrer, under the direction of CEO Santiago Achaval and winemaker Roberto Cipresso, stands at the summit of Argentina wine producers. The benchmark Finca bottlings are limited (under 1000 cases produced of each) so the best way to discover the pleasures of Achaval-Ferrer are through the entry-level Malbec of which there are 12,000 cases. Achaval-Ferrer is about to launch a new cuvee called Tempous, a blend of the three single vineyards. There are only 75 cases (3 barrels) produced of each vintage, so fans of the winery, be prepared to go to war to get your hands on a few bottles. The wines are fermented with indigenous yeasts, aged for 18 months in new French oak, and bottled without fining or filtration. Importer: TGIC Imports, Woodland Hills, CA; tel. (818) 225-5100