2008 Cavas de Crianza Blend Mendoza

91 points Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate: "Clos de Chacras’s 2008 Cavas de Crianza is a blend of 40% Malbec, 30% Merlot, and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from a 40-year-old vineyard and aged for 12 months in second-use French and American oak. Purple in color with a pleasing perfume of cedar, spice box, earth notes, violets, black cherry, and black currant, on the palate it is full-bodied, muscular, and sweetly-fruited. It reveals plenty of power but remains light on its feet with good balance and a lengthy, pure finish. Give it 2-3 years to further unwind and drink it through 2023." (12/10) According to the Wine Spectator: "Jammy, offering ripe notes of blackberry and raspberry coulis held up on a bright frame..." It is well worth the effort to re-taste a wine periodically, even if it is a bottle which merely shows ok initially. This was my experience with the 2008 Cavas de Crianza Blend. Despite the review, I did not want to bring it in several months ago because honestly, it just was not tasting that good. I had the opportunity to re-taste it recently, and after several months it has developed into something much more interesting. The sweet dark fruit flavors show good concentration and have put on weight, with some well balanced sweetness from its stint in short stint in oak. Sometimes, it’s all about a second chance and good timing. Drink this Malbec blend over the next few years with some good food and company. (Joe Manekin, K&L Argentine buyer)