| Vintage | Score | Drink Window | Description | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vintage2023 |
ScoreNYR |
Drink WindowNYR |
DescriptionMultiple frosts affected yields, particularly in Patagonia and southern Uco Valley, yet with less fruit, the warm, dry season accelerated development. Many wines show intensity, as well as natural acidity, and should be ageworthy (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click for full tasting note): |
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DescriptionMultiple frosts affected yields, particularly in Patagonia and southern Uco Valley, yet with less fruit, the warm, dry season accelerated development. Many wines show intensity, as well as natural acidity, and should be ageworthy (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click to see full tasting note): |
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Vintage2022 |
Score94 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionA roller-coaster vintage, with spring frosts followed by a relatively cool, damp season, ending with another frost, but the harvest warmed at the right time, yielding expressive wines with optimal acidity, concentration and ripeness (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click for full tasting note): |
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DescriptionA roller-coaster vintage, with spring frosts followed by a relatively cool, damp season, ending with another frost, but the harvest warmed at the right time, yielding expressive wines with optimal acidity, concentration and ripeness (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click to see full tasting note): |
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Vintage2021 |
Score94 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionAn atypical harvest requiring patience and technical expertise, with cool temperatures and rain slowing ripening; reds are concentrated as a result, yet relatively lower in alcohol, while yields were average or slightly below (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click for full tasting note): |
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DescriptionAn atypical harvest requiring patience and technical expertise, with cool temperatures and rain slowing ripening; reds are concentrated as a result, yet relatively lower in alcohol, while yields were average or slightly below (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click to see full tasting note): |
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Vintage2020 |
Score91 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionA challenging vintage, with late spring frosts reducing yields and a warm, dry summer causing accelerated ripening. Those who picked before overripening set in made wines with good concentration and freshness (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click for full tasting note): |
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DescriptionA challenging vintage, with late spring frosts reducing yields and a warm, dry summer causing accelerated ripening. Those who picked before overripening set in made wines with good concentration and freshness (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click to see full tasting note): |
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Vintage2019 |
Score94 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionSlightly cooler-than-normal weather yields reds with concentrated flavors; the crop is a bit smaller than 2018, with wines showing remarkable intensity (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click for full tasting note): |
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DescriptionSlightly cooler-than-normal weather yields reds with concentrated flavors; the crop is a bit smaller than 2018, with wines showing remarkable intensity (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click to see full tasting note): |
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Vintage2018 |
Score93 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionNearly ideal growing conditions deliver well-structured wines that feature fine-grained tannins and ripe fruit flavors; harvest yields return after a series of short vintages (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click for full tasting note): |
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DescriptionNearly ideal growing conditions deliver well-structured wines that feature fine-grained tannins and ripe fruit flavors; harvest yields return after a series of short vintages (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click to see full tasting note): |
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Vintage2017 |
Score92 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionA return to characteristically dry weather delivers intensely flavored grapes, but yields are low due to a spring frost; refined, terroir-driven Malbec-based wines, especially in prime districts in the Uco Valley (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click for full tasting note): |
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DescriptionA return to characteristically dry weather delivers intensely flavored grapes, but yields are low due to a spring frost; refined, terroir-driven Malbec-based wines, especially in prime districts in the Uco Valley (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click to see full tasting note): |
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Vintage2016 |
Score84 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionLower-alcohol and higher-acidity wines dominate in another cool, wet vintage, with dramatically lower yields in Mendoza and Salta. The best are fresh and juicy (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click for full tasting note): |
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DescriptionLower-alcohol and higher-acidity wines dominate in another cool, wet vintage, with dramatically lower yields in Mendoza and Salta. The best are fresh and juicy (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click to see full tasting note): |
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Vintage2015 |
Score85 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionWetter than 2014, with botrytis rot in some vineyards, hitting Cabernet Sauvignon the hardest; better for white wines (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click for full tasting note): |
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DescriptionWetter than 2014, with botrytis rot in some vineyards, hitting Cabernet Sauvignon the hardest; better for white wines (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click to see full tasting note): |
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Vintage2014 |
Score87 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionLate-season rains proved challenging for vintners; diligent work in the vineyards resulted in some high quality releases; Salta succeeded (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionLate-season rains proved challenging for vintners; diligent work in the vineyards resulted in some high quality releases; Salta succeeded (See all ratings) |
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Vintage2013 |
Score90 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionCool weather produced fresh wines, with balanced acidity and tannins; lower alcohol levels (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionCool weather produced fresh wines, with balanced acidity and tannins; lower alcohol levels (See all ratings) |
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Vintage2012 |
Score87 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionWhat began as a hot vintage finished with unusually heavy rains in February and cool and cloudy conditions in March, delaying harvest up to two weeks (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionWhat began as a hot vintage finished with unusually heavy rains in February and cool and cloudy conditions in March, delaying harvest up to two weeks (See all ratings) |
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Vintage2011 |
Score91 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionChallenging vintage, with frost, high winds, hail, drought, cold and rain; yet naturally low yields and warm Indian summer yielded ripe fruit balanced with fresh acidity (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionChallenging vintage, with frost, high winds, hail, drought, cold and rain; yet naturally low yields and warm Indian summer yielded ripe fruit balanced with fresh acidity (See all ratings) |
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Vintage2010 |
Score89 |
Drink WindowPast peak |
DescriptionCool and cloudy; spring frost reduced yields in some areas, but a late harvest allowed the remaining grapes to evenly mature, with slightly lower alcohol levels (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionCool and cloudy; spring frost reduced yields in some areas, but a late harvest allowed the remaining grapes to evenly mature, with slightly lower alcohol levels (See all ratings) |
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Vintage2009 |
Score88 |
Drink WindowPast peak |
DescriptionGrowing season marked by La Niña; warm and very dry, with a heat spike during veraison, though Malbec tolerated it well. Whites less consistent; yields low (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionGrowing season marked by La Niña; warm and very dry, with a heat spike during veraison, though Malbec tolerated it well. Whites less consistent; yields low (See all ratings) |
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Vintage2008 |
Score86 |
Drink WindowPast peak |
DescriptionCool, wet weather in first half of season; late April frost hit crop hard in parts of Mendoza. Some successes, but reds picked after frost can be off-kilter; choose carefully (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionCool, wet weather in first half of season; late April frost hit crop hard in parts of Mendoza. Some successes, but reds picked after frost can be off-kilter; choose carefully (See all ratings) |
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Vintage2007 |
Score88 |
Drink WindowPast peak |
DescriptionUp-and-down season, with hail, cold and rain; wines have lower alcohols and softer tannins. Late-ripening spots in Mendoza (La Consulta, Altamira) strongest (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionUp-and-down season, with hail, cold and rain; wines have lower alcohols and softer tannins. Late-ripening spots in Mendoza (La Consulta, Altamira) strongest (See all ratings) |
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Vintage2006 |
Score91 |
Drink WindowPast peak |
DescriptionCool but dry season, with harvest stretching into April and May. Consistent for all major varieties; top Malbecs show excellent purity, balance and poise (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionCool but dry season, with harvest stretching into April and May. Consistent for all major varieties; top Malbecs show excellent purity, balance and poise (See all ratings) |
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Vintage2005 |
Score90 |
Drink WindowPast peak |
DescriptionCool temperatures early in the season led to reduced yields, but warm, dry March and April helped ripen grapes; late-ripening Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon excelled (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionCool temperatures early in the season led to reduced yields, but warm, dry March and April helped ripen grapes; late-ripening Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon excelled (See all ratings) |
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Vintage2004 |
Score90 |
Drink WindowPast peak |
DescriptionWarm, dry season with Malbec the star; some heavy rains late in the season led to variable Cabernet Sauvignon (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionWarm, dry season with Malbec the star; some heavy rains late in the season led to variable Cabernet Sauvignon (See all ratings) |
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Vintage2003 |
Score91 |
Drink WindowPast peak |
DescriptionFebruary heat wave during a long, dry season led to some inconsistencies, but Malbec excellent (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionFebruary heat wave during a long, dry season led to some inconsistencies, but Malbec excellent (See all ratings) |
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Vintage2002 |
Score94 |
Drink WindowPast peak |
DescriptionStellar growing season with optimal harvest conditions yielded racy, ripe fruit. Best vintage in a generation, with all varieties performing well (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionStellar growing season with optimal harvest conditions yielded racy, ripe fruit. Best vintage in a generation, with all varieties performing well (See all ratings) |
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Vintage2001 |
Score87 |
Drink WindowPast peak |
DescriptionCool growing season, with the harvest dampened by some rain. Cabernet Sauvignon generally better than Malbec (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionCool growing season, with the harvest dampened by some rain. Cabernet Sauvignon generally better than Malbec (See all ratings) |
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Vintage2000 |
Score86 |
Drink WindowPast peak |
DescriptionCool and wet, but a long growing season allowed for a late-ripening harvest. Malbec generally better than Cabernet Sauvignon (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionCool and wet, but a long growing season allowed for a late-ripening harvest. Malbec generally better than Cabernet Sauvignon (See all ratings) |
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Vintage1999 |
Score90 |
Drink WindowPast peak |
DescriptionDry, sunny growing season; small crop of ripe, concentrated reds with rich tannins (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionDry, sunny growing season; small crop of ripe, concentrated reds with rich tannins (See all ratings) |
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Vintage1998 |
Score75 |
Drink WindowPast peak |
DescriptionHarvest decimated by El Niño rains; many producers didn't release wines (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionHarvest decimated by El Niño rains; many producers didn't release wines (See all ratings) |
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Vintage1997 |
Score88 |
Drink WindowPast peak |
DescriptionDrought year produced concentrated, burly reds (See all ratings) |
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DescriptionDrought year produced concentrated, burly reds (See all ratings) |
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Note: Most Argentine white wines should be drunk on release. |
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Vintage ratings: 95-100, classic; 90-94, outstanding; 85-89, very good; 80-84, good; 75-79, mediocre; 50-74, not recommended
A score range indicates preliminary analysis based on barrel samples and/or a limited sampling; many wines of the vintage not yet reviewed.
Drinkability: "NYR" means the vintage has not yet been released; "drink" means most of the wines of the vintage are ready to drink; "hold" means most of the ageworthy wines have yet to fully mature; "past peak" means most of the wines are declining rather than improving.
SOURCE: WINE SPECTATOR
