2014 Cobos Bramare Malbec Uco Valley Mendoza

There are two generic Malbecs in the Bramare range, each sourced from different zones of Mendoza. My favorite of the two was the 2014 Bramare Valle de Uco Malbec, sourced from a variety of vineyards ranging from ten to 80 years of age across the Valle de Uco. The grapes fermented in stainless steel and aged in oak barrels for 19 months. Ten percent of the barrels were new French oak, and 20% of them new American oak. None of the wines show any notes of the coconut and vanilla people often associate with American oak, as they have refined the selection of oak they use and have also lowered the percentage of American barrels they use. I find this quite round and fresh for the year, with some violets coming through with time in the glass. This shows a change, but I believe the change is bigger in 2015. 51,600 bottles produced.

Using fruit from five different vineyards, spread between Chacayes and La Consulta, this is a plush, sweet, savoury Malbec with layers of plum and blueberry fruit, a touch of liquorice and an overtone of smoky oak. A winemaker who knows his market. 2017-21