96 Pts - Tim Atkin
This wine has an intense red-violet colour. The nose is delicate, with aromas of violet flowers, menthol, spices and black fruits. In the mouth, ripe and structured tannins, and liquorice notes. Long and persistent finish. Exceptional specimen!
In 2008, Fabian Valenzuela chief oenologist at bodega Tapiz was selecting the components of Tapiz Seleccion de Barricas. This consisted on tasting the contents of the oak barles (225 lts capacity each) where the wines harvested in 2006 from the best plots of land were being aged for almost two years by then. This is done every year, and Seleccion de Barricas is a blend of the barriques selected in this process.
That particular year, when he tasted one of the Malbec barrels, he was in awe with the deep dark colour of the wine, and the amazing concentration of flavours it presented. When pouring it in a glass and swirling it a direct image came to his mind with the drops of wines that were produced: black tears (lágrimas negras). It was at that point that he decided to make a single variety top end wine from this wine. He identified the plot of land the grapes came from, and created a new product which became iconic: Black tears Malbec
A rich and juicy wine with chocolate and berry character. Full body, soft and velvety tannins and a flavourful finish.
96 pts James Suckling
93 pts Robert Parker
95 pts Decanter World Wine Awards
96 pts Argentina Wine Awards Gold
Shows the tension and subtlety that only great wines can achieve. It is a wine where patience is rewarded by the different nuances that are displayed in the glass. Expressive in the nose, with mineral notes that are also present in the palate, which shows as well notes of fennel and fresh red fruits. A wine with many layers, subtle and graceful, but of a fundamental structure that sustains and lengthens the sensation of the wine in the mouth, is the backbone that evokes the soil of calcareous origin, where the grapes come from.
From a single vineyard from the San Pablo Estate, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina - one of the coolest climate Uco Valley sub regions. .
"This wine has a deep ruby red color and complex aromas, characteristic of violets, raspberries, wild mint and spicy notes. Medium-bodied with remarkable elegance and balance, leading to delicately sweet and subtle tannins".
Tim Atkin 92/100
This wine was also the OUTRIGHT WINNER in Decanter Magazine's vast "American Cabernet Franc" feature and tasting in September 2023. The wine was the only bottle from North or South America to achieve the very highest score of 96/100 - beating some huge names and price tags along the way.
This bottle, Ladies and Gentlemen, is a real winner.
Grab some now, before it is too late.
James Suckling 94 Points
A top blend from Marcello here. His wines are all natural, and we are delighted to have them back after an absence of a couple of years. This blend (2015 vintage) is produced from handpicked grapes which underwent a micro fermentation with natural yeasts prior to being aged in oak for 20 months.
This is a seriously good wine, more savoury and elegant than fruit driven, with noticeable vanilla on the finish.
Ggreat flavour and structure. Pure, intense dark fruit, classic damson, dark plum, blackcurrant, with a fresh cranberry lift, and a lovely mineral/floral elegance. Vanilla, clove, cedar, and dark smoke from the oak with lovely tight tannins that are in perfect step with the fruit intensity and the pretty big hit of alcohol.
Bodega Sottano was founded in 1890 by Mr. Fioravante Sottano who settled in Mendoza after moving from Italy. Today the estate is a byword for quality, modern Mendoza wines that express a delicious sense of place.
