Val de Flores – 2008 – Mendoza

Red wine with a very deep and inky core however starting to lose some colour at the rim indicating a certain age. I really like this nose, it is starting to display a certain level of age, and complexity. So very fine and intense aromas here, moving from that dense and inky primary fruit, those dark berries, plum, blackberry. I get a bit more here of earth, smoke, a hint of black truffle and yeah that beautiful density that comes with a certain age. The palate has good weight, good density here. It is starting to loosen up in terms of texture. I mean it is obviously a very concentrated wine, massively very tough and tight in its youth. Now we still have a density of fruit, but I think the tannins are more finely grained, more like chocolate powder. I also can speak about a hint of dark and bitter chocolate on the palate, in combination of those ripe blackberry, dark plum. With a fine level of maturity, I would say in terms of that spiciness, a hint of that smoke and those earthy truffle like aromas. Well built, dense, with an approaching complexity. Long and opulent finish. And also I think that it has found its balance now in terms of freshness, quality of tannins, density and weight and fruit. A wine I would happily drink now, but still with a potential for further development.

Tasted by the Best Sommelier of the World, Andreas Larsson.