2009 Luca Malbec
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Tasting notes
16 months in 60% new, 40% second-use French barrels. Heavy bottle bought via a Sausalito importer. Horrid sweet, overripe nose. Syrup not wine. Coconut dose. Uncomfortable tannins and chew. (JR)
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Deep ruby. Superripe aromas of blackberry, molten chocolate and mocha. Plush, ripe, chocolatey and sweet, in need of a bit more definition of flavor. A slightly heavy malbec but fat and long.
The 2009 Malbec spent 16 months in 60% new French oak. It displays a fragrant perfume of lavender, wood smoke, spice box, black cherry, and blackberry leading to a smooth-textured, succulent, easygoing Malbec with a bit of hidden structure and a lengthy, fruit-filled finish. Although it is likely to evolve for 1-2 years, it can be approached now and over the next 10 years. Luca is the personal project of Renaissance woman Laura Catena, M.D. Importer: Vine Connections, Sausalito, CA; tel. (415) 332-8466; fax (415) 332-8668