Matias Riccitelli Republica del Malbec 2011

The 2011 Matias Riccitelli Republica del Malbec is a small lot of 5,000 bottles of concentrated pure Malbec from the Vistalba zone at 1,100 meters altitude in Mendoza aged for 16 months in new oak barrels. The nose combines notes of sweet spices (vanilla, cinnamon) with black cherries, damsons, blueberries and violets. The palate is full-bodied, but manages to keep the freshness despite its 15% alcohol. Some dry tannins detract from its pleasure. Wait one more year for the tannins to get polished. Drink 2015-2020. Score - 92. (Luis Gutierrez, erobertparker.com, April 2014)