2007 Clos de Los Siete

(48% malbec, 28% merlot, and 12% each cabernet and syrah) Bright, full ruby-red. Crushed black fruits, mocha, bitter chocolate, licorice and smoked meat on the nose. Sweet, penetrating and firm-edged; aromatic in the mouth but tightly wound today. I like this wine's balance of sweetness and acidity. The tannins are firm but not quite hard. This energetic wine needs time to soften.

48% Malbec, 28% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Syrah. Michel Rolland has high expectations for the sixth in a line of successful vintages, which he deems to be one of the most complete and balanced to date. Having chosen an exceptional site with a potentially hazardous microclimate, Rolland is quietly confident that his gamble is paying off to produce a premium wine from this dramatic location south of Mendoza. The 430ha vineyard at Vistaflores is at an altitude of 1,100m. Harvesting took place from 25th March – 24th April with yields of 34hl/ha. Grapes were manually sorted twice, followed by cold pre-fermentation maceration. Maturation lasted 11 months of which two thirds was in new French oak. Not fined nor filtered. Deep nose, full of berries.. on slightly musky wood. A bit of a bite at first and then subsides quickly.. full flavour.. lengthy finish.. a bit astringent… but lots of body and flavour. (VD)