Clos de los Siete 2006

Winemaker: Michel Rolland
Grape: 45% Malbec, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 10% Syrah (the blend varies every vintage)
Region: Mendoza, Argentina

Ratings: R.Parker 92 points:

“The 2006 Clos de los Siete is a slightly different blend. Opaque purple-colored, it has a similar expressive nose including fragrant plum, blueberry, and black cherry. Ripe, sweet, and seamless, it admirably hides its tannin under all the fruit. It will evolve for several years but who will have the willpower to defer gratification? It is an awesome value.”

The mountain vineyard of Clos de los Siete has very unique microclimate with its very low rainfall and incredible range of temperatures that played a big role in the longevity of these wines.

The vines went through very late snowfall, late flowering and then through constant high temperatures in January which led to a rapid color change in the space of just 10 days. Malbec was specialy noteworthy this vintage and took its right place as the top grape variety of Argentina.
Every grape for this blend were picked manually, manually sorted in the vineyard twice (before and after destemming).

Transport of grapes is done all by gravity (no pumping). The grapes were then soaked in cold pre-fermentation maceration, and pumped twice at the beginning and at the end of fermentation. Final blend than ages for 10 months in new French oak barrels – 1/3 in vat. Wine is not fined, not filtered.

Tasting notes:
This full body blend surprise you with rich aroma of blackberries, dark berries fruit and lovely dense ruby/purple color. Seductive when you taste it, rich on the palate with notes of plums, blueberry and chocolate. Very impressive, long finish, a quality, more common to wines twice or triple the price!

When combined with spiced dish, it brings out the spiciness of Malbec grape in the wine. Clos de los Siete is a master piece, can age well but is perfectly drinkable as a young wine as well. Great value!

Dry – Off dry – Medium sweet – Sweet
Light – Medium – Full body
No oak – Aged in oak
Retail price: under $ 20.00

Ideal food pairing:
Steak, grilled barbeque meats, rich beef casseroles, spicy food such as our Mexican beans and rice, chili