Yauquén Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec 2004
Bodega
Range
Wine
Vintage
Origin
Price
Appearance
Deep scarlet red.
Nose
Lush, spicy black and red fruit. Vanilla, pepper, some toasted nuts.
Palate
Intensely lush black fruit with a full mouth-feel. Plums, cherries, boysenberries. Plenty of spice: vanilla, with hints of pepper and cinnamon. A trace of damp river-stones, a subtle minty herbaceousness, and some toasty walnuts on the mid-palate. Sky-high alcohol content (14.8%), but acidity is too low and the tannins too few and fine to provide any real structure.
Overall
A gutsy and stimulating mouthful, but lacking in follow-through – due to the low acidity and lack of tannins, only sweetness and a warm alcoholic burn linger. Somewhat tiring on the palate due to the intensity both of sugars and alcohol. But for sheer intensity, it's hard to beat in this bracket.
***+
(July 06)