Tim Atkin top scores for our wines
Acclaimed wine writer Tim Atkin has just published his Argentina Report 2020. Every year, Tim travels to Argentina and visits all the wine growing regions, taking the time to see as many growers as possible, taste their wines, understand their philosophy and then write about Argentina and it's wines. He scores all the wines he tastes and yet this scoring is only a small part of what he publishes on the subject. His report reads almost as a novel, demonstrating an incredibly deep understanding of the culture, the people and of course the wine industry of Argentina.
This year, Tim managed to spend three weeks in Argentina, just ahead of the global lock down, and tasted 1,736 wines from 331 wineries.
As well as being a Master Of Wine, Tim is also a gifted photographer and the pictures he includes in his report really bring across the beauty of Argentina and its wine regions.
This report is a fantastic read which is available via Tim's website at an incredibly affordable £ 20.00. We wholeheartedly recommend this small investment which we believe will pay back big time! To purchase the report, just follow the link below.
https://timatkin.com/product/2020-argentina-special-report/
Argentina sits at the core of our know how and speciality, and we are extremely pleased to see a number of the growers we represent listed in the selection of First, Second and Third Growths, as well as to find many of our wines featured in the Top 100 selection.
Our Wineries listed as First Growths:
- El Porvenir de Cafayate in Salta
- Mendel in Mendoza
Our Wineries listed as Second Growths:
- Fincas Patagonicas: Tapiz winery in San Pablo, Uco Valley
- Fincas Patagonicas: Wapisa Winery in coastal Patagonia
Our Winery listed as Third Growth:
- Lupa Wines in Altamira, Uco Valley
Here is a list of the wines that made it to the top 100, and that you can buy from us. It includes Tim's scores and tasting notes:
- 96 Points: Laborum de Parcela Finca Alto los Cuices 2019
"This incredible, isolated site produces one of my favourite Malbecs, not just in the north but also in the whole of Argentina. Pepper, savoury and intense, with expertly handled second and third-use oak, suave tannins, notes of bramble and red berry fruit and long, balanced, nuanced finish. Superb winemaking. 2022-31"
Buy the 2018 vintage which also obtained 96 Points last year:
- 96 Points: Mendel Malbec 2018
"The stony soils of Perdriel are more commonly associated with Cabernet Sauvignon than with Malbec, but this first release shows that the sub-region is very well suited to both. This is an ambitious old vine red that handles its 60% new wood with ease. Aromatic spices, fine-grained tannins and plum and blueberry fruit are beautifully entwined here with fresh acidity lengthening the finish. 2022-28"
Buy the 2017 vintage which obtained 92 Points last year:
https://latinwinesonline.com/products/mendel-malbec?_pos=1&_sid=8352fcb7c&_ss=r
- 95 Points: Fincas Patagonicas Tapiz Black Tears Malbec 2015
"Jean-Claude Berrouet, the long-term ex-winemaker at Pomerol’s Château Pétrus, is the consultant for this San Pablo Malbec, so it’s not surprising that the quality is outstanding. Showing the silky tannins that are his hallmark, this is subtle, scented and elegant, with expertly handled new oak, leafy, black cherry flavours and a long, tapering finish. Ageing beautifully. 2022-30"
Currently sold out, but you will soon be able to buy the 2014 vintage which also scored 95 points last year:
https://latinwinesonline.com/search?type=product&q=black+tears
- 95 Points: Fincas Patagonicas Wapisa Malbec 2018
"Jean-Claude Berrouet deserves his reputation as one of the best winemakers in the world and he’s still at the peak of his post Château Pétrus form. This remarkable Malbec comes from San Javier close to Patagonia’s Atlantic coast and has the delicacy and finesse of a great Bordeaux red. Elegant and perfumed with subtle oak and leafy intensity. 2022-28"
Soon to be shipped to the UK
- 95 Points: Lupa Malbec 2018
"All made with fruit planted in the older part of Paraje Altamira north of the Canal Uco in 1947, this is a brilliant, small-volume Malbec from the modest Juan Pablo Lupiañez. Intense, subtle and very polished, it has aniseed and orange peel aromas, layered blackberry and black fig fruit, 35% new wood and scented Asian spices. 2022-26"
Buy the 2016 vintage:
https://latinwinesonline.com/products/lupa-malbec?_pos=1&_sid=0e4b75d80&_ss=r
- 95 Points: Mendel Finca Remota Malbec 2017
"Finca Remota is consistently among the best Malbecs, not just from Paraje Altamira, but from the whole of Argentina. Densely coloured, engagingly aromatic and effortlessly classy, it’s one of those wines where the terroir is doing the talking. Fine-boned tannins, chalky minerality and crunchy plum and black cherry flavours are complemented by 60% new oak. 2022-32"
Buy the 2016 vintage which scored 96 points last year!:
https://latinwinesonline.com/search?type=product&q=finca+remota
- 94 Points: Laborum Tannat 2018 - Single Vineyard Finca El Retiro
"This brilliant Tannat was grafted over from an old Criolla parcel in 2005, whose shaded pergola vines produce small bunches of intensely flavoured grapes. Youthful, scented and deftly wooded, with firm tannins, plenty of acidity and notes of incense, wild herbs and damson and black cherry fruit. 2022-28"
Buy the 2015 vintage:
https://latinwinesonline.com/search?type=product&q=laborum+tannat
- 94 Points: Mendel Unus 2017
"Unus is a classic Mendoza blend of fruit from Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley, more specifically Mayor Drummond, Perdriel and Paraje Altamira. Reflecting a little bit of the heat of 2017, it’s a cuvée of Malbec with 35% Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, mulberry and blackberry flavours, serious tannins and toasty oak. Needs time. 2022-29"
Buy the 2016 vintage which scored 93 points last year:
-93 Points: El Porvenir Icono 2016
"The most international in style of the wines produced by Paco Puga at El Porvenir de Cafayate, but this still has commendable freshness and focus beneath the carapace of 20% new wood. Melding Malbec with 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, it has flavours of cassis and blackberry, a twist of aniseed and some mocha oak. 2022-28"
Currently out of stock. More information on the 2015:
- 93 Points: Mendel Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
"Roberto de la Mota understands Cabernet Sauvignon as well as any winemaker in Argentina, and it shows in the quality and balance of this example from the gravel soils of Perdriel. Made with the 337 clone planted in 1994, it’s bright, perfume and focused, with scented mocha oak and a long, tapering finish. 2021-28"
Buy the 2016 vintage:
https://latinwinesonline.com/products/mendel-cabernet-sauvignon?_pos=1&_sid=69795034c&_ss=r
- 92 Points: Laborum de Parcela Finca Alto Rio Seco Malbec 2018
"Block 4 in the Alto Río Seco vineyard supplies the fruit for this taut, chalky, refreshing Malbec which sees more new wood than some of Paco Puga’ wines but has enough focus, grip and density to cope with it. The underlying minerality adds appealing length to the finish. 2021-28"
Buy the 2016 vintage:
- 92 Points: Laborum Malbec Single Vineyard 2019
"Picked a little earlier because of the reflected heat of the surrounding rocks, this is an intense, unwooded Malbec that’s floral and red-fruited, with some chalky freshness, fine- grained tannins and a fresh, zesty finish. A lighter style of Cafayate wine. 2021-25"
Buy the 2017 vintage which also scored 92 Points last year:
https://latinwinesonline.com/products/laborum-malbec-2015?_pos=1&_sid=657f467ad&_ss=r
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