2018 was a cooler year than 2017, and I had high expectations for the 2018 Táganan Parcela Margalagua. This vineyard has been vinified and bottled separately since 2012 because it has a very strong personality, not surprisingly, because it's one of the most fascinating and exceptional vineyards I've ever seen in my life. Since 2015, they understood this place is about elegance and depth rather than power. The varietal breakdown is something like 88% red grapes—Negramoll and Listán Negro—and 12% Listán Blanco, the local strain of Palomino, from reddish, very rocky volcanic soils. Like most of the reds here, it's only 12% alcohol. It fermented with 100% stems and indigenous yeasts, and the élevage was with the lees in used, neutral 228-liter oak barrels without racking or added sulfur. This is a translucent bright ruby color, and it's aromatic, floral, spicy and mineral, expressive and super fresh, because of the year and because they have new cooler vineyards. It has lots of notes of violets and lilies. The flavors are pungent, precise, clean, symmetric and very elegant, with refined tannins and a tasty, somewhat salty finish. This is the best wine they have produced to date. Truly word-class. 2,400 bottles were filled in January 2020.
Score: 98 points -- Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate, Aug 2020
