2007 Mendel Unus

2007 very fresh and a little rainy. A year with big yield in Mendoza in general and not well classified at the beginning. But for me it was excellent, fruity, fresh and elegant with excellent evolution.  Ungrafted Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon planted in 1928 in Luján de Cujo. 16 months in new French oak. Dark cherry red, glowing and vibrant. Just looks so healthy. Initially on the nose the alcohol seems a little more evident and there's a strong aroma of fruit sweetness. Then the warm briary and gently floral dark fruit takes over. Sweetness of blueberry. Texture is firm and chalky, the tannins very fine but ultra compact. Good concentration, as on all the wines in this vertical. It has so much here – some vanilla sweetness and then all the savouriness of old vines on a great site and low yields and even with all the refined power there's freshness on the finish. Still very youthful. (JH)

(a 70/30 blend of malbec and cabernet sauvignon, aged in 100% new French oak) Bright medium ruby. Lovely lift to the aromas of black and blue fruits, violet pastille, mocha and licorice. Sexy dark chocolate and roast coffee notes complement tangy black raspberry and pomegranate flavors. At once powerful and light on its feet, silky yet vibrant, with a restrained sweetness. Finishes with firm tannic spine, excellent grip and considerable elegance. I'd give this at least three years in the cellar.

The 2007 Unus is a blend of 70% Malbec and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from the same vineyard as the Malbec cuvee. It was aged for 16 months in new French oak. It is a bit darker in color and more expressive and complex aromatically. Rich, intense and layered bordering on opulent, this medium- to full-bodied wine manages to retain a sense of elegance along with plenty of power. It has enough structure to blossom for another 4-6 years and will be at its best from 2014 to 2022. Importer: Vine Connections, Sausalito, CA; tel. (415) 332-8466