Malbec is a huge grape in South America, and this bottling from Chile’s Viu Manent is 93% Malbec with 7% Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s a good example of Malbec’s character, with a mouth full of dusty earth that falls back to notes of grape juice (a surprise — wine never really ever tastes like grape juice), plus plums and bittersweet cocoa. There’s leather and tobacco in there, but the net is surprisingly bitter and tight — this wine is awfully tannic to be drinking so early in its life. I’d hold this one a few years and see what happens.

B / $22 / viumanent.cl

2006 Viu Manent Single Vineyard Malbec San Carlos Estate

$22

8

Rating

8.0/10

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