Pulenta Estate VII Gran Corte 2004
Bodega
Range
Wine
Vintage
Origin
Price
Appearance
Bright, vibrant scarlet red with a lustrous glow.
Nose
Intense stewed red fruit - plums and redcurrants. Lots of sweet cloves.
Palate
Medium bodied with a warm, silky, opulent mouth-feel. Stewed red fruits reflect the nose. Cloves, vanilla and cinnamon, with a trace of pencil shavings. Tannins are soft and supple, the acidity is exquisitely balanced, and length impressive.
Overall
An interesting corte without a clear dominant grape: 30% Malbec, 27% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Tannat (a grape rarely seen outside Uruguay, but favoured for its highly structural tannins), and 6% Petit Verdot. But, boy does it work. 12 months in new French oak, with a sensibly restrained 13.5% alcohol, this is a fabulous wine. Reasonably pricey, but fair.
****+
(November 06)