More than a decade ago when we started selling Argentine wines, including varietal Malbecs, most people needed a bit of an explanation. They hadn't had much Argentine wine, and most folks had not heard of Malbec. A lot has changed since that time, and Argentine Malbec has become a topic in and of itself. Argentina has drawn an international cast who have embraced Malbec projects, including a few folks from that icon of the wine world, Bordeaux. Bodegas Monteviejo is one of those stories, and one of the Argentine wineries that is consistently performing at a high level. It is all about vision we suppose, and these people simply have a higher standard. The owner of Bodegas Monteviejo is Catherine Péré-Vérgé, also owner of Bordeaux Chateaux Le Gay and La Violette in Pomerol. She established Bodega Monteviejo early in the game (1998) and is committed to making great wine. She and her formidable winemaking team of Marcelo Pelleriti and Michel Rolland have made this Mendoza property a player.
Lindaflor is quite literally produced in a spare-no-expense manner but doesn't have that kind of price. It is great example of a modern, lusty Malbec, but with definite European sensibilities. The color and aroma remind you of concentrated violets, dark berries surround this floral note, and there are hints of vanilla and coconut. The creamy and velvety texture, with its sweet and chewy tannins, are vintage Michel Rolland. The mid-palate reveals dark fruits, anise, cinnamon, and a fine minerality. A lingering finish leaves you eager for the next sip and the nicely folded in acidity gives the wine lift and buoyancy. Clearly serious juice that, at our price, is pretty easy to swallow.
