Bodega Chakana Estate Selection Malbec 2018
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Product Details
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Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
The color is deep purple, very intense, typical of Malbec. Plum, brambly berries, spices and an iris/violet note are apparent on the nose. Intense, fruity flavors with velvety tannins.
Excellent with roasted meats, duck, salad, pasta, pizza.
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
Sourced from elevations over 5,000 feet, this wonderfully expressive, impressive red is aged in new and used French oak (70%) and concrete vats (30%) for 12 months. Black cherry and bloody grilled meat meet high acidity that highlights a thread of graphite and subtly integrated black pepper. A powerhouse with excellent drinkability.
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Wine Enthusiast
Blueberry and cassis aromas are jumpy, with an infusion of spice notes including cardamom. This Malbec from an excellent year is popping with tannic grip and lively acidity. Ripe blackberry flavors are accented by leathery notes and warmth, while a solid finish propped up by acidity shows no degradation. Drink through 2024.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The juicy, aromatic and fruit-driven 2018 Inkarri Winemaker’s Selection Malbec felt like pure grape juice, with unnoticeable oak after ten months in 3,000- and 5,000-liter oak vats. It's floral, soft and approachable, clean and pure, not terribly complex but very pleasant.
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James Suckling
Crushed plums, mulberries and waxberries with a herbal undertone. Very lifted acidity with crunchy black cherries on the palate, yet it ends somewhat abruptly. A little steely.
Other Vintages
2020- Vinous
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James
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Wine &
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Robert
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Robert
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Chakana winery was founded by Juan Pelizzatti on May 2nd, 2002. Juan was driven to enter the wine industry first and foremost by his passion for wine, and also by the desire to invest his time and money on a product of agriculture. Although Juan did not know it at the time, the company was founded on the same day the Chakana was celebrated on the Andes highlands: on that same day, the Southern Cross (the Chakana for the Inca people) becomes vertical in the night Andean sky.
Chakana is the name of the Southern Cross constellation. Its rotation in the sky throughout the year made it an effective agricultural calendar for the ancient Andean people. The "yaguarete" (jaguar) on the label was known by the ancient Andean people as the "lord of the starred night"; the wildest known animal.
Juan's mission is to create an integral experience to introduce world consumers to the taste and culture of the Andes. His vision is to become one of the top 20 exporters of wine from Argentina, by consistently offering outstanding value for money.
Celebrated for its bold flavors and supple texture, Malbec has enjoyed runaway success in Argentina since the late 20th century. The grape originated in Bordeaux, France, where it historically contributed color and tannin to blends. A French agronomist, who saw great potential for the variety in Mendoza’s hot, high-altitude landscape, brought Malbec to Argentina in 1868. Somm Secret—If you’re trying to please a crowd, Malbec is generally a safe bet with its combination of dense fruit and soft tannins.
By far the largest and best-known winemaking province in Argentina, Mendoza is responsible for over 70% of the country’s enological output. Set in the eastern foothills of the Andes Mountains, the climate is dry and continental, presenting relatively few challenges for viticulturists during the growing season. Mendoza, divided into several distinctive sub-regions, including Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley, is the source of some of the country’s finest wines.
For many wine lovers, Mendoza is practically synonymous with Malbec. Originally a Bordelaise variety brought to Argentina by the French in the mid-1800s, here it found success and renown that it never knew in its homeland where a finicky climate gives mixed results. Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot and Pinot Noir are all widely planted here as well (and sometimes even blended with each other or Malbec). Mendoza's main white varieties include Chardonnay, Torrontés, Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon.