(2023) If you follow the results of the various wine competitions, then how about a 97-point wine for just £12.95, the award coming from Decanter magazine? This Malbec, from vineyards at 1,200 metres in the Tupungato Valley, was made with the assistance of consultant Michel Rolland. It really is a lovely wine - it would not score 97 points from me, but that's unimportant. What is important is that it is a svelte and luxurious, deeply-black fruited Malbec that also shows the fragrant, violet-scented side of the variety. Plush and mouth-filling too, the sweet richness of the fruit is offset by creamy tannins and pert cherry acidity. Excellent value for money - whatever the points score. Watch the video for more information.
(2016) Adds more creaminess and high violet character over the estate Cab Sauvignon. More plushness with ripe red and black berries and gently toasty oak. Exotic incense note, a liquorice twist of bittersweetness, almost a Campari-like bite but creamy-smooth finish. At time of writing the 2012 is £14.99 from Invinity Wines.
(2015) Twelve months ageing in French oak for this Malbec, sourced from premium vineyards in three of Mendoza's sub-zones. What a delightfully fragrant nose, with Sandalwood and burning incense, the tobacco and toast of the oak melting into the floral-edged black fruits of the Malbec, touches of chocolate and menthol, but savoury. In the mouth it is pretty sumptuous stuff, fairly big, velvety and soft with its ripe fruit, plush tannins and chocolate density of texture, but there is a lively cherry and blackcurrant-skin acidity too, in a long and simply delicious wine. Montes reckon this will have 10-years ageing potential.
(2013) Finca Sophenia has been a name to watch out for in recent years, with Michel Rolland consulting and some very interesting vineyards in prime spots of Tupangato in Mendoza. The handsome and heavy bottle indicates the ambitions, and the deep black/purple colour indicates the youth and concentration of the wine. It has the elegant violet and cracked pepper lift that is always welcome in Malbec, as well as spicy, chocolate, Agen prune and fig notes. On the palate there is a delicious surge of ripe, plummy and full black fruit, very sweet and full, but with the tart edge of plum and cherry skin acidity and tight tannins adding some tension. A lovely wine, intense and powerful at 14.5% ABV, but long and balanced too. A big mouthful of wine this, and a bottle that should cellar.
(2008) Very nice nose, with real sense of minerality and plenty of bright floral and kirsch fruit to juicy berries. High quality French oak, with juicy, ripe blackcurrant fruit and a lots of finesse and racy freshness very nice wine this, with richness and flesh but a fresh appeal.
