Dark ruby-red. Pungent aromas of blackberry pastille, licorice and crushed rock are lifted by a violet topnote. Fine-grained, lively and penetrating, offering lovely savory minerality and inner-mouth lift. Very suave and fine-grained wine with no corners. More minerally than sweet but even today this wine shows no rough edges; the Cabernet Franc element contributes herbal complexity and lift. Much more gripping than an earlier sample of this wine; in fact, this youthfully bracing bottling stands out for its precision and energy and needs time in bottle to expand. A juicy midweight with lovely sappiness and no heaviness or undue sweetness. My bottle rewarded extended aeration. (15% new oak)
91+ points, Stephen Tanzer, Vinous (Sep 2019)
Aromas of quite bright blackcurrants and red plums, as well as purple flowers, flowing to a palate that has gently sinewy tannins with approachable yet muscular appeal. Drink or hold.
91 points, James Suckling (Mar 2019)
The slightly riper (tasted next to a 2018) 2017 Limestone Block Malbec is a co-fermentation of Malbec and Cabernet Franc from Los Chacayes in the Valle de Uco. There are notes of black fruit and violets, juicy tannins and a soft and approachable palate with integrated acidity and good harmony. Here, the tannins are the signature of the wine, with a chalky sensation despite the approachable overall character it has. 50,000 bottles produced.
90 points, Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate (Issue # 245 - Oct 2019)