2006 Malbec Vina Venturin

Dark ruby-red. Plum, violet pastille, licorice and a distinct note of chocolatey torrefaction on the nose. Cooler and less sweet than the Cristina y Bibiana, with a firm mineral spine giving this a clenched character at the outset. This became sweeter with aeration but still finished with a slight hardness to its tannins, as well as the minty nuance shown by most of these single-vineyard malbec offerings.

The 2006s were bottled in early April, 2008, just a week before I tasted them. The 2006 Malbec Vina Venturin is purple/black-colored with an expressive nose of toasty oak, lavender, mineral, blueberry, and black cherry. More forward than the other 2006 Malbecs, it also exhibits greater complexity, sweeter fruit, awesome depth, and a 60-second finish. Drink it from 2012 to 2026. (Not yet released) Trapiche is best known for its value priced wines but the mid-range and, particularly the single vineyard Malbecs, should not be missed. Two white wines were presented during my trip to Mendoza. The single vineyard Malbecs are the centerpiece of the Trapiche portfolio. The selections vary from vintage to vintage but in each case the grower is honored on the label. The 2005s are currently in the market while the 2006s have been bottled but not yet released. Both vintages are top-notch but the 2006s (at Trapiche and almost every winery I visited) seem to have that extra dimension that sets them apart. Importer: Frederick Wildman & Sons, New York, NY; tel. (212) 335-0700