Amalaya Gran Corte 2018

The 2014 Amalaya Gran Corte is a blend of Malbec with some 10% Cabernet Franc and 5% Tannat that wants to showcase the potential of their vineyards in Cafayate. Rains were the average 125 liters (extremely low compared to other places and the vines need to be irrigated or they'd die), and the year was very balanced, for them one of the best in recent times. The grapes were picked at full ripeness, fermented with indigenous yeasts and the wine matured in one-third new oak barrels (two-thirds French, the rest American) for one year. Until 2012, there was a lot of purchased grapes and in 2014, it's 100% of their own grapes, and you really notice a big step up in quality. This is harvested up to 20 days after the Amalaya Malbec and you get darker fruit; also, the influence of the oak is more noticeable, with abundant sweet spices (cinnamon, vanilla) and a core of decayed violets. The palate is round, tasty and very spicy, with some smokiness, displaying a more commercial profile. 78,000 bottles produced.

Bright ruby-red. Sexy aromas of wild blackberry, black cherry and game. Seamless, fine-grained and lightly saline, with almost syrah-like notes of blueberry, game and pepper. Lovely balance and energy here. Builds nicely on the back end, finishing with supple, even tannins and very good saline persistence. Excellent value.-- Stephen Tanzer

Tangy black cherry coulis and sun-dried red plum notes lead in this rich red, with additional earth, tobacco and game notes playing out in the background. Drink now.