De druiven voor deze Malbec komen van drie verschillende wijngaarden uit de volgende regio’s:
Vistalba zorgt voor een intens fruit en concentratie;
La Consulta draagt bij aan structuur en verfijnde tannines;
Agrelo zorgt voor body en een zekere frisheid in de wijn.

De wijn wordt voor 50% op Frans eiken hout en 50% op Amerikaans eikenhout opgevoed, waarvan 49% bestaat uit nieuwe vaten.
De kleur is paarsrood. In de neus vooral zwarte bes en vanille. In de mond is het fruit duidelijk aanwezig en ook vindt men het vanille zoetje van eikenhout.

Referenties

Candela 1884 Malbec 2009;

Decanter, december 2010,
17,5/20 Highly Recommended,
Intense dark fruits, five spice, violets. Fine tannins and complex. From 2012.

Candela 1884 Malbec 2008;

Robert Parker, wine advocate 184, Jay Miller, augustus 2009
87/100
The 2008 Malbec spent 9 months in French and American oak. It is purple-colored with a perfumed nose of cedar, spice box, and black cherry. Forward, smooth-textured, and savory on the palate, this nicely-balanced wine will deliver pleasure over the next 3 years.
Don Miguel Gascon was started in 1984 and purchased in 1992 by Catena. The winery has 300 acres in Agrelo and 180 acres in Altamira which is supplemented with purchased fruit. A new winery was built in Agrelo in 2008 and current production stands at 180,000 cases, all of which goes to the USA through an arm of E & J Gallo. They also have begun importing another Catena brand, Alamos; the combined production making Gallo the largest importer of Argentine wines to the United States in volume.
As with most anything that the Catena organization touches, the focus remains on quality despite the huge production.
Drink 2009-2012

Candela Malbec 2007;

Wine Spectator, November 15 2008
86/100
‘Medium-weight, with a mix of raisin, vanilla, toast and plum notes. Smoky finish. Drink now. 71,500 cases made. J.M.’

Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate, December 2008
87/100
“The purple-colored 2007 Malbec contains 5% Shiraz in the blend. The wine spent seven months in French and American oak. It exhibits an attractive nose of black cherry with a hint of blueberry. Smooth-textured, savory, and nicely balanced, it will drink well for another four years. It over-delivers for its humble price tag.’

Wine & Spirits, juni 2009
88/100
“This wine’s lush ripeness is marked by deep flavors of raspberry preserves. It’s a simple and flavorful malbec to drink as the meat grills”

Candela Malbec 2006;

Perswijn, Januari/Februari 2009,
****(*)
Elegantie en frisheid, meer dan de meeste, zwoel en kruidig, krentjes, goede zuren, sap en tannines.

Candela Malbec 2005;

Wine Spectator, November 30, 2007
86/100
Plush and forward, with medium-weight plum and red berry fruit, backed by a soft, smoky finish. Drink now. –J.M.

Candela Malbec 2004;

Decanter, november 2005
World wine wards, bronze
Vibrant fresh berry fruit with integrated oak, a hint of smoky bacon character and slightly rustic tannins.

Candela Malbec 2003;

Wine Spectator Online Wednesday, July 22, 2004
89/100
Rich and fleshy, with smooth blackberry and boysenberry fruit flavors augmented by sweet mocha, spice and toast notes. Long, suave finish. Offers plenty of fruit without getting jammy or heady.”

Wine Spectator September 14 2004
89/100
‘Rich and fleshy, with smooth blackberry and boysenberry fruit flavors augmented by sweet mocha, spice and toast notes. Long, suave finish. Offers plenty of fruit without ever getting jammy or heady. ‘
-- J.M”

Jansis Robinson.com
16,5/20
Drink 2005–08
Deep flavours. Good quality oak again. Lively. Good attempt.

Wine enthusiast, november 2005
86/100
Purple in color, with potent berry aromas. The blend is 65% in favor of Malbec, and the winee boasts blach raspberry and plum flavors. Finishes hefty and warm, with notes of cola. Best buy –M.S.

Decanter, october 2004
Commended

Perswijn, maart/ april 2006
****(*)
Kersen, peperigheid, tikje gebrand, laurier, zoet hout en romigheid, rijp fruit.

Candela Malbec 2002;

Wine Spectator Weekly, 16 Oktober 2003
90/100
” Winemaker Gustavo Marin has fashioned this wine, with dark cherry, plum and cassis fruit racing along, and plenty of chocolate and loam as well. Nice, rich, smoky finish shows grip, while the fruit lingers. Lots of personality here. This wine has a great track record for value, and shows how strong the ’02 vintage is. Drink now through 2005.”
- Jim Markus

Wine Spectator, December 2003
90/100 – Best Value
’ Always a solid value, the '02 Gascón Malbec is a winner. Dark cherry, plum and cassis fruit races along here, with plenty of chocolate and loam. Nice, rich, smoky finish shows grip, while the fruit lingers. Shows how strong the '02 vintage is. Drink now through 2005. 10,000 cases made. Best Values.’

Perswijn, december 2003
****(*)
’fruit, vriendelijk hout, viooltjes, sappige smaak, goede tannines en frisheid, stevig en intens.’

Winespectator, 15 Oktober 2002
87/100 Best Value
‘Textbook Malbec, with brier, chocolate and dark plum flavors, fleshy texture and a smoky finish. A touch rustic in the end, but ideal for fall BBQs. Drink now through 2003. 16,000 cases made.’
- James Molesworth
NB voor de 2000

Winespectator, 15 November 2001
88/100 Best Value
’Sweet, fleshy and succulent, with blackberry, blueberry and bramble notes and a long, juicy finish. Not as structured as the big-gun Argentine Malbecs, but downright delicious and for a great price.’
- James Molesworth

Winespectator, 15 November 2004
89/100 Best Value
Ripe, lip-smacking acidity keeps the plum, blackberry and boysenberry fruit bouncing along with mocha and spice notes.

Winespectator Online Wednesday, May 08, 2002
‘Luckily, not all the good Argentinean wine is produced in minuscule amounts. Some large wineries, such as Bodegas Escorihuela, have solid track records. Led by winemaker Estella Perinetti, Escorihuela makes it seem easy, as with their 16,000 cases of Malbec Mendoza Don Miguel Gascón 2000 ,88.’
- James Molesworth

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