2007 Achával Ferrer Malbec Mendoza, Argentina

91 points from Wine Spectator: "Rich, with delicious raspberry and macerated currant fruit enlivened by a strong violet aroma and piercing mineral streak long, dark, juicy finish is very vivid and racy. Drink now through 2009. 4,300 cases imported." (Tasting Highlights, 9/12/2008) 91 points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The entry-level 2007 Malbec (a blend of four vineyards) delivers a superb bouquet of pain grille, mineral, floral notes, and black cherry. This leads to an impeccably balanced wine with a sleek palate feel, serious depth, succulent flavors, and a lengthy finish. It will evolve for several years but can be enjoyed now." (12/08) From the second this pours out of the bottle the powerful nose, perfectly balanced between sweet and spicy, fills the room. With blueberry, black currant, red plum, cinnamon stick, clove, Oolong tea and finely ground black pepper there is plenty here to smell and enjoy. Add to that the bold, mouthfilling texture, the exuberant personality of the layers of black fruits and baking spices found on the mid-palate and the signature acidity of the 2007 vintage on the finish and this is something pretty special. Overall what you have here is not so much a sense of the winemaking, but of the vineyards, of the actual raw materials from which this wine is made from. To me that is much more interesting, I hope it will be to you as well. (Bryan Brick, K&L)