Las Moras 2011 Reserve Tannat - 87pts

Las Moras 2011 Reserve Tannat (Valle del Tulum) San Juan - Argentina

Availability: BCLDB stores

Cost: $14-15
Alcohol: 14%
Date Tasted: February 25th, 2013

Tasting Notes: Makes a nice alternative to the region's bread'n'butter variety, Malbec, with unique smoky-blueberry characters and a 16 month oak program usually reserved for more expensive wines. Both rustic and modern with light earthy notes and medium tannins framing the extracted, plump blue fruit favours and full body. Moderate finish is a tad bitter though offers nice dried fruit and spice flavours. Ready to be enjoyed now and should hold for 2 more years. Drink 2013-2015.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright Icon Wines 2013

Las Moras 2007 Reserve Tannat - 87+pts

Las Moras 2007 Reserve Tannat (Valle del Tulum) San Juan - Argentina

Availability: Private wine shops

Cost: $15-17

Alcohol: 14%

Date Tasted: December 12th, 2009

Tasting Notes: Tannat is another unique grape to North Americans that is historically grown in France but has found modern-day success in South American countries Uruguay and Argentina. Think of a spicy, Syrah-Cabernet Sauvignon cross with similar aging potential.

On the nose this inky-purple coloured wine offers youthful aromas of blueberries, white pepper, pencil shavings and toasted-oak notes. The high-minus bodied palate offers flavours of oak, white pepper, dark fruit and cooking spice notes.

This wine was aged in oak for 16 months and has very high acid and tannins which are a bit unruly. With another year or two of aging the tannins should mellow and the wine will become more balanced and accessible. - LC