Saturated ruby. Very dark, brooding scents of crushed black fruits, licorice pastille, violet and shoe polish, plus a hint of herbs. Then rich, deep and chocolatey on the palate, with its intense black fruit flavors benefitting from the inner-mouth floral lift of this vintage in Uco Valley. The wine's subtle sweetness is perfectly balanced by harmonious acidity. Finishes with a fine dusting of tannins and palate-staining persistence. Even today, there's nothing austere about this stunning wine, which should gain in interest for the next decade. (made from a single block of 60-year-old vines that are reportedly among the oldest in La Consulta; aged for 20 months in 500-liter barrels, half new and half second-use).
September 2019