The aromas of blackcurrants, blackberries, lavender and graphite are really beautiful. Medium-bodied with very fine tannins and a graphite and dark fruit character at the end. Fine and linear tannins. A blend of their best high-altitude vineyards. Drinkable but better in a year or two. -J.S.
Slow to unfold, this red offers a dried violet and loam cast to the crushed red currant and raspberry core. Gains nice lift from fresh acidity, which drives the flavors onto the finish, picking up fresh herb details and a hint of vanilla bean. Drink now. 2,112 cases made, 125 cases imported. -A.R.
Considering its age, this medium-bodied red is still quite youthful, showing nice vibrancy and structure around a plum pastry core. Delivers citrus peel, olive and spice notes, which lengthen around firm, minerally tannins. Drink now through 2026. 2,050 cases made, 250 cases imported. -A.R.
The 2020 Primus Malbec was made with grapes from different locations in the Valle de Uco and produced in a clean, classical way, with ripe berries and measured spice, varietal notes of flowers and abundant fine tannins. It's powerful and balanced, with good freshness from a warm year. -L.G.
The 2019 Malbec Primum from Los Arboles and San Pablo, Uco Valley was aged for 18 months in 15% new French barrels. A dull purple in the glass. The nose presents notes of prune, herbs, hints of violets, rose and mint and elegant woody aromas such as sandalwood. Juicy and creamy in the mouth with refined tannins, the lively freshness stretches out the finish. A rewarding, substantial wine. -J.H.
Full, rich, finely chewy and dry with notes of cranberry, cherry, plum, white rose, singed meat, toasted almond and vanilla.
This elegant Malbec opens with subtle rosemary and cigar box aromas. Then blackberry, black cherry and plum notes show in the glass. This is a well-balanced red with intense fruit and earthy flavors. It features fine-grained tannins and medium acidity on the palate, leading to a flavorful finish. -J.V.
The 2018 Malbec Primus is a blend of grapes from Los Arboles and San Pablo, Uco Valley and was aged for 18 months in 15% new barrels. Dark purple in color, the intense, oxidative nose delivers complex notes of ripe plum, nutmeg, sweet spices, cola and dried flowers. Broad and fleshy on the palate with a packaged freshness, this is a ripe red with tacky flow in which the body and freshness back up the grippy tannins. A substantial, flavorful wine.-J.H.
The 2017 Primus Malbec is clearly marked by the warmer character of the vintage even in the higher-altitude places of the Valle de Uco, where the grapes were sourced for this cuvée. It's ripe and has very tasty and developed flavors and still some oak and spice. It has abundant and slightly grainy tannins that would welcome powerful food or a little more time in bottle. 35,280 bottles produced. It was bottled in February 2020.
PlatinumDark fruit, chocolate and spice undertones. It’s full-bodied with firm tannins. Savory and structured on the palate. Tannic finale with power. Try after 2024.
PlatinumA Malbec from the Uco Valley that spent 18 months aging in 15% new oak. Bright purple in the glass. The nose offers mint with hints of black currant, blackberry and plum followed by secondary but discernible oak notes. The palate has intense flavors and volume and a good, balanced combination of acidity and alcohol (14.5%), displaying fluidity and fine-grained tannins. Everything the region has to offer, done well.
PlatinumA saturated purple color and concentrated aromas of blackberry, cassis, prune and vanilla lead to a lush, pure palate that’s ripe but balanced. Deep plum, blackberry, cassis and raisin flavors are full and delicious, while this Malbec pours on the spice notes on the rich finish. Drink through 2026. Palm Bay International. —M.S.
PlatinumThe 2016 Primus Malbec was produced with grapes from a cold and rainy year, mixing grapes from San Pablo, Los Árboles and Altamira. It fermented in 7,000-liter oak vats, and some 15% of the volume fermented in barriques followed by malolactic and 18 months of aging in French oak barrels. The idea is a blend of the zones, and from those they do a barrel selection. Truth is, the wine shows good balance and ripeness without excess; it reminded me of the single vineyard from Altamira, and it didn't have the excess ripeness I found in Gualtallary (in theory it didn't participate in the blend). It's serious and classical, powerful and concentrated, well oaked and with balance to develop nicely in bottle. It finishes long and tasty, with a salty twist. 25,320 bottles produced. It was bottled in December 2017.
PlatinumA selection of the top fruit from Salentein's 5,000-acre estate in the heights of the Uco Valley, this radiates freshness, although not in the usual crunchy-red-fruit way. Instead, it has the petrichor scent of summer air after a refreshing rain, hinting at salinity and florals. With three-quarters of the wine aged in 7,000-liter oak casks, the rest in new barriques, the tannins have turned pillowy and broad; they wrap around the fruit with a nutty, tobacco-scented richness. Savory and subdued, it's an elegant malbec that holds its freshness for days after opening.
PlatinumFleshy and rich, with well-spiced plum tart, raspberry and dark cherry flavors that are well-structured. Redolent of cardamom, with hints of cinnamon on the creamy finish.
PlatinumFull and chewy with notes of red apple skin, cassis, black olive, dark chocolate and cedar.
PlatinumIt's a classical Malbec that is generously oaked and with ripe fruit. The palate is a little lighter than I expected. 25,200 bottles were filled in December 2015.
PlatinumIt's a ripe, concentrated and generously oaked Malbec with ripe black fruit and plenty of spicy oak aromas and flavors.
PlatinumRipe and robust, featuring concentrated dark plum, red berry and currant flavors that are well-concentrated. Spicy, with plenty of smoky notes on the finish. Drink now through 2021.
PlatinumThere are some blends, of which I tasted two, starting with the one called 2013 Numina Gran Corte. It combines 62% Malbec, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 4% Merlot from their older vineyards from Los Árboles. The different varieties were harvested at different times and therefore fermented separately in oak vats and after six months in barrel they were blended and put back in barrique to complete an élevage of some 16 months. It's earthy, faintly reduced with some developed aromas, denoting ripeness (maybe the long cycle?) and black rather than red fruit. The Cabernet is quite noticeable in the blend, especially in the texture of the tannins, and the freshness of the vintage shows up in the shape of a fine thread of acidity.
PlatinumThis is a top-dog Malbec from start to finish. Aromas of cassis, black plum and blackberry are well oaked and in harmony with each other. While this is tannic, rubbery and hard in feel, the wine’s lusty plum, raisin, chocolate and herbal flavors can handle it. A spicy, toasty, chocolaty finish is fully oaked and strapping. Drink through 2023.
PlatinumBright ruby. Roasted aromas of blackberry, cassis, violet and spicy oak. Plush, ripe, creamy and sweet; utterly seamless, concentrated dark berry and violet flavors are framed by just enough juicy acidity. Carries well on the ripely tannic, rich finish. A major mouthful of silky, chocolaty-rich Malbec dark fruits, hinting at an almost raisiny ripeness.
PlatinumA stunning, luscious barrel-fermented wine with elegance, depth and power; lovely plum, blackberry and violets enhanced by toasty French oak; rich, polished and complete.
PlatinumConcentrated aromas of blackberry, licorice root and Graham cracker are lusty. This feels thick on its edges but somewhat sharp and tartaric in the middle. Flavors of molasses, raisin, cassis and blackberry are bolstered by sharp acidity, leaving a finish that htis fast then falls off.
PlatinumThe 2012 Primum Malbec is from a plot and barrel selection from their vineyards in the district of Los Árboles in Tunuyán in the Uco Valley. The wine fermented in a combination of oak vats and barriques and matured in barrel for some 18 month. It's a ripe, well-oaked Malbec with plenty of smoke, toasted and spicy aromas that display the great influence from the élevage. The palate has plenty of volume and sweet, round tannins with enough acidity. This is a modern, ripe and concentrated red that is quite powerful and persistent.
PlatinumA suave red, with sandalwood, spiced cherry and plum tart flavors that feature peppery notes. Broadly textured, with plenty of crisp acidity that lingers with accents of dried beef. Hints of green herbs show on the creamy finish.
Platinum