2012 Achaval-Ferrer Quimera
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Tasting notes
There is a new 2012 Quimera Edición Limitada that also mixes different origins within the province of Mendoza and varieties: Malbec from their flagship vineyard Finca Bela Vista, plus the four varieties of their Bordeaux blend (Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon) from elsewhere. It fermented with neutral yeasts and matured in new French barriques until bottling in September 2013. This aromatic, floral and heady blend is sold mostly at the winery and in the Argentinean market, and that's a shame, because it's a tremendous red. It's incredibly fresh for the conditions of the vintage, polished by the time in bottle, ending fresh and long. 3,000 bottles produced.
Critic scores
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Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate
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The 2012 Quimera is a multi-zone blend of 50% Malbec, 24% Cabernet Franc, 18% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Sauvignon matured in new French oak barrels. This is the first vintage where the Malbec takes half of the blend, as they want to increase the Mendoza/Argentina character of the wine reducing the more herbal varieties. Not that the wine has ever been herbal or green, and indeed this 2012 is ripe and aromatic, with just a hint of seriousness. The palate reveals how good the bottle-aging is for this wines, which polishes its tannins and leaves them soft and juicy. You don't really feel the heat of the vintage here, the wine is very fresh and drinks very well, but it should also be able to improve even further. 70,000 bottles produced.
(aged in French oak, 40% new, for 12 months; 50% Malbec, 24% Cabernet Franc, 16% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Petit Verdot): Dark red-ruby. Ripe aromas of blackberry, blueberry and bitter chocolate. Dense and fine-grained, showing attractive spicy lift to its dark berry flavors. Ripe, harmonious acidity gives this wine a seamless quality. Classy juice.