2011 Cobos Bramare VD Cabernet Marchiori Vineyard Mendoza

The soils in this part of the vineyard are slightly rockier and well suited to Cabernet, according to Andrea Marchiori. Dense and oaky, with structured tannins, big bold flavours, good texture and body and a sweet plum and blackcurrant core. Just a little too ripe for me. Drink: 2014-19.

This shows lots of blueberry and plum character. Full body, with chewy and rich tannins and lots of cedar and dark chocolate. This spent 18 months in new wood and seems slightly overdone now. Needs time to come together. Best in 2017.

The 2011 Bramare Cabernet Sauvignon Marchiori Vineyards comes from 16-year-old Cabernet Sauvignon vines that were planted with a massale selection (they don't work with clones) at 1,000 meters altitude in Perdriel (Lujan de Cuyo), fermented in inox and raised for 18 months in French and American oak (66% new). The soils have one meter of rock and these blocks are stonier than the soils where Malbec is planted. It is very aromatic, with a profusion of balsamic notes, floral and blueberry aromas intermixed with hints of sweet spices and smoke. The palate is full-bodied, with pungent flavors (no doubt amplified by the alcohol) of blueberries, licorice and herbal freshness. The tannic structure is impressive. A fresh, powerful Cabernet. Drink now-2023.

Bright medium ruby. Superripe aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, mocha, coffee, truffle and chocolate liqueur. Sweet and chewy on the palate, with a roasted quality to the currant, mocha and milk chocolate flavors. A bit less salty than the 2010 version of this bottling but I still wanted more primary fruit. Finishes with building tannins that turn slightly dry with air.

Chunky black-fruit aromas are ripe but familiar, meaning the nose is pumped full of richness and oak. Racy acidity on the palate gives this modern Cab spine, while in the mouthfeel stays on the fast track due to zesty acidity. Flavors of cassis and blackberry register as fresh and ripe, and the finish is crisp and not the least bit flabby. Drink through 2016.

A ripe, modern expression of Cabernet, displaying cassis, macerated cherry and roasted plum notes, tightly wound with silky tannins and forward layers of nutmeg, licorice and smoke. Drink now through 2019. 300 cases imported. -NW