Unprecedented: 95-Point Red Only $9.98! Hurry!

We’ll open with the obvious question:

How many 95-point, sub-$10 reds have you seen, bought or tasted in the last year?

We can probably guess the answer is certainly ‘not many’, and likely ‘none’.  Well, the Santa Julia Reserva Mountain Blend Valle de Uco 2015 is exactly that, a gushing red that sells for $9.98 and sports a 95-point score from the respected British magazine Decanter.

Not. Kidding.

Now, the Brits are pretty savvy when it comes to value, and certainly not predisposed to pass out big numbers as a matter of course.  So on the rare occasion when their tasting panels of experts, Master Sommeliers and Masters of Wine do post a substantial mark on a modestly priced wine, it definitely bears attention because it’s the kind of polished, versatile wine you can drink on a regular basis.

Santa Julia is a specific label for the Zaccardi family, and there is actually a real Julia for whom the winery is named (it is the only daughter of Jose Zuccardi, the current director).  The Santa Julia vineyards focus on organic and sustainable practices and those vineyards scored big-time with this juicy effort.

This cuvee might not be familiar even to folks that know the Santa Julia brand well.  This is only the third vintage of this particular blend of 70% Malbec and 30% Cabernet Franc, all from the upscale Uco Valley.  Before we even knew about the lofty review, we were quite taken with this wine’s surprising polish for the price point and have been particularly intrigued by what we have seen from Argentine Cabernet Franc in a variety of scenarios.  We might go so far as to say that Franc as a varietal has a legitimate shot at becoming the ‘great grape’ of Argentina one day.  In the meantime, the harmony and succulence, roundness and inviting profile of this blend make for a delicious go-to red at an almost laughable price.  The score was just a bonus...bring on the meat!

We’re not usually ones to use winery verbiage but their notes are spot on in this case, “A complex nose with a bouquet of plums, cherries, and jam, expressing both spicy and vanilla notes; it blends wonderfully with the blueberry and violet aromas of the Cabernet Franc. In the mouth, the Cabernet Franc adds dark fruit and spices to the velvet tannins and rich Malbec flavor, making a perfect combination that results in a complex, elegant wine of great concentration.”
The comments from the distinguished panel at Decanter clearly conveyed pretty much the same impression, “A seductive clean and fresh dark cherry nose. Magnificent aromas of boysenberries and raspberries complemented by notes of black pepper and sweet spices. Freshness, intensity, fruit concentration and precision are great characteristics of this wine. To enjoy with a delicious piece of red meat!  95 Points.”

Even with the kind of epic deals we have been rolling out this year, this is a tough one to beat.  Argentina, si!

We don’t expect this one to hang around long...