Randy Fillingim

9.1

This is one of five bottles at a recent tasting. This was not the youngest. However, I was quite taken back by how wonderfully it’s still drank - a 21-year-old Malbec. I can’t tell you about the berries and the fruits and any of the other 175 taste descriptions. all I know is the tannins and fruits were in very good balance after all these years.  — a month ago

Kim Van Schoick

9.1

More full bodied than anticipated, but in the best way. Absolutely fantastic with a good steak. — 3 years ago

Ray Vanderhoff

8.9

Another solid vintage of this ripe and juicy red. Aromas of cooked red berries and plums. Full and round pallet that features cassis, blueberry and plum. Touch of minerality and earth on the very long finish. Very smooth tannins. Silky texture. Bright, fruit forward and fresh. More fruit than tertiary flavors in this vintage. Excellent QPR. — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Perfumed nose of violets plus blue and red fruits a note of red liquorice. On the medium weight plus palate , ripe plum and chocolate. Differs from Cabernet with no herbal bay leaf characters and softer tannins in this case but persistent. This is a perfect wine to have with steak, in this case T bone. The Argentinians worked this out ages ago. One of the 1001 wines where it is summed up succinctly - The hallmark of the Catena style is refinement and balance but with a big personality. These wines supercede the Malbecs from Cahors because the vineyards are planted between 780 metres and 1500 metres in the Andes. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

This was one of the best visits we had. It was also the most beautiful. The best in Chile and right in there with the very best sites we’ve seen in all our wine region visits.

They have their wine program dialed in and do everything right. All their practices are organic/biodynamic. They also control every aspect of them start to finish. There is no money spared or practices skimped on.

On the nose; dark currants, smoldering ambers, elegant spice, incense, cinnamon, light clove, vanilla, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, plum, dark cherries, some black licorice, elegant minerals, soft loamy soil and fresh dark floral with violets.

The body is beautiful and full. The tannins are velvety, round and just a touch sticky. The structure, length, tension and balance are excellent. Dark currants, smoldering ambers, elegant spice, incense, cinnamon, light clove, vanilla, ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, plum, dark cherries and strawberries on the edges. Some black licorice, elegant minerals, tobacco, beautiful medium spice, underbrush, used leather, crushed rocks, soft loamy soil and fresh dark floral with violets. Beautiful round acidy. The long, elegant, ripe, beautifully balanced finish is lovely and goes on for minutes.

The Photos don’t even come close to how beautiful their property and view are. It would have helped if the fog had not be in. It’s a stunning view. Photos of; their Estate vines as seen from their hillside hosting terrace. Eduardo who handles all their vineyard practices and set up their biodynamic program. He is an amazing person to talk vineyard management..,not to mention a very nice and salt of the earth person. Examples of all the different organic products they make and use in the vineyard to keep it and the echo system in perfect balance. Last but not least, the beautiful Andes Mountains as again seen from their hillside terrace. — 9 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Delicious and worthy bottle a bit lost in a buffet of special wines. 💯 RP wine. HBTM. — 7 months ago

Mark Rosse

9.4

187 cs made. From 8000 ft. In Salta. Yield is 1.4 tons per acre. — 2 years ago

Adam Gäfvert

9.4

This was really impressive. My first try of Virginia wine and what a great example of the potential. Mesmerizing aromatics. Berries, herbs, coffee beans, rosemary, underbrush. Silky on the palate with a fresh and tannic finish. It’s a shame Virginia wine is almost impossible to find in Europe. If I could, I’d explore more. — 3 years ago

Willie Carter

8.9

A really nice introduction to Snowden Vineyards with this one. Deep cherry color with a thin rim. The amount of earth on the nose is really nice. Graphite and soft red cherries leads to just about the right amount of cedar. Juicy blueberries take the lead after a heavy decant.

Single vineyard Napa Merlot with a splash of Cabernet Sauvignon thrown in just for good measure. Medium bodied with tannins on the supple side. 14.0 but doesn’t get the balance off. Nice acidity and structure. The palate mirrors the nose with brambly fruit and toasty wood elements. Long finish with spices and herbs. Next time your dumb friend starts quoting Sideways, give them this.
— 5 years ago

Momo Sa

9.2

Happy hour at Rocco’s at the Brick in Newtown. — 6 years ago

with Steve and Mike

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9.3

(14.6% alcohol; just 15% new oak; 100% from estate vines, about three-quarters from the rockiest portion of the company's Las Compuertas vineyard and the rest from Altamira): Bright ruby-red. Very fresh black and blue fruits, menthol, spices and licorice on the nose and palate, complicated by mint, minerals and medicinal herbs (the Cabernet Sauvignon is apparent here). Still a baby but already displays a Malbec juiciness and firm underlying structure. Suave in texture, offering noteworthy delicacy and clarity. Winemaker Lorenzo Pasquini cut back substantially on new oak in 2014 (he normally uses 30% to 50%) and used only French barrels. Not a large-scaled wine but refreshing, suave, complex and intense, with lovely cut. Finishes with excellent spicy length, round tannins and hints of licorice and black olive. (Stephen Tanzer, Vinous, July 2018)
— 8 years ago

Jay Miner

9.0

The 2015, the other half of the night's comparison. Less subtle, more floral. Jasmine, rose petal, honey. All powerful, but all a bit separate and distinct. I think this could lie down for a good while. Will be pleased to try another bottle in a few years. — 9 years ago

Ericsson

9.3

Tasted this wine a few times and it is certainly getting better. This might the the best vintage yet. At Cheval Blanc in Saint Emilion. — 8 months ago

Victor Hsu

9.0

1949 vintage (!!!). Very special half bottle, but more than half the volume lost to evaporation. Opened this gem at Totoraku yesterday to go with two full bottles of Chateau Lafite Rothschild, 1996 and 1952 (!!). This Temple of Beef demands special occasion wines. Cork fell apart in the bottle so we poured it all in a decanter but did not wait to sip. Pale strawberry-orange color, surprising tart fruit nose, supremely delicate taste with just a bit of fruit and life left. Not the best bottle on the table but certainly not in any way undrinkable. Interesting experience. Would gladly do it again in the name of science. Oldest Red Bordeaux I have ever tasted. — 3 years ago

John Hagood

9.4

Sold by Cork owner as “best in store” ca 2016. Drink the 2001 on 1/15/2022. (Notes lost by the app, but we loved it.) — 5 years ago

Daniel M

9.0

Cherry, an earthy note, violet, some spices too. The palate is well designed and quite fresh, with a strong acid backbone, a beautiful cherry note all along, a good width and a soft mouthfeel. The mid palate builds up slowly and expands nicely, with a slight layer of grainy tannins. The finsih is long and fruity with a spicy note. This wine is very precise with that sheer acid drive, you can bet it was grown in high altitude from that freshness and that energy. Good one! — 6 years ago

Adam Beasley

8.9

Unlike any Malbec I’ve tasted in recent memory with none of the overripe fruit and sweet violet notes I so often find. There was a funky / meaty note on the nose with pepper and red fruit. More earthiness than I was expecting for sure. Blind I may have guessed it was a blend from the Languedoc. Balanced and subtle wine. — 8 years ago

Brent Morgan

9.4

Delicious. Will wait before opening opening. Really good Shadow Canyon fruit, cool climate acidic. Lots of tannins and lots of oak. Will be great when it mellows in a few years. — 9 years ago

Patrick Derdeyn

9.0

In a vintage that got lost between the heralded 97 and 99 this showed fairly well. Fruit drying out but that ever present eucalyptus note still there. — 9 years ago

Ara Aslanian

9.0

Lost most of its fruit. Great nose, drank a little funky at first but came around after a little time in the glass. — 9 years ago

with Emil and Edward