Bodega Noemia 2017 A Lisa Patagonia 750ml

(13.5% alcohol; this wine is aged predominantly in stainless steel): Full red-ruby. Wild, leathery scents of blackberry, jammy cherry and licorice; a real attention-grabber of a nose and perhaps a bit funky for some tasters. Pungent leather and blackberry flavors reveal a distinct herbal quality but this Malbec delivers a wonderfully fine-grained, glossy texture, as well as lovely breadth. The lingering finish features substantial but smooth tooth-dusting tannins, excellent length and a touch of herbal dryness. This wine is a bit less floral and more earthy than the '17 but also a bit sweeter.

Score: 90 points -- Stephen Tanzer, Vinous, April 2018

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Bodega Noemía is a very special collaboration between Danish winemaker Hans Vinding-Diers (cousin of Peter Sisseck of Pingus), and Countess Noemi Marone Cinzano. The project was inspired by the discovery of a small plot of old vine, pre-phylloxera malbec in the Río Negro Valley. From that, they've produced a small range of malbec, malbec blends, rosé, and cabernet sauvignon. A Lisa is a blend of malbec with nine percent merlot and one percent petit verdot, with a blend of estate and neighbouring fruit. Tight and chiseled, with pure black cherry, plum, thorny blackberry, housed by finely gritty tannins. Acidity is taut and direct, keeping this streamlined and narrow, tucked into its 13.5 degree frame.

Score: 91 points -- Treve Ring, Gismondi On Wine, May 2018