Country: | Argentina |
Region: | Mendoza |
Winery: | Tiza & El Ganador |
Grape Type: | Malbec |
Vintage: | 2012 |
Bottle Size: | 750 ml |
El Ganador translates to "the winner", and given its quality-to-price ratio, we consider this Malbec a win!
Rich ruby-purple color. Displays elegant flavors of blackberries, ripe plum and robust spices, with good balance and structure. A delightful & versatile red.
A ruby red garnet color, ripe fruit aromas, dried fruits, hints of licorice and scents of vanilla. Robust and harmonious in the mouth, a rich texture. The wine is only produced in the best vintages.
The grapes are coming from a vineyard planted at 400 meters above sea level. The soil is mainly marl and limestone.
The density of vines per hectare is 5,000 plants, which is equivalent to 2,000 vines per acre.
The pruning technique used is cordon
The grapes used are 100% Sangiovese grosso
Alcoholic fermentation was done in tank, while the Malo-Lactic fermentation was carried in oak barrels.
Wine was then aged for one year in big French oak barrels and 3 years in Slavonian oak barrels.
Review:
"With only 1,000 bottles produced, the 2012 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a precious wine that might prove difficult to locate. This is a dark and syrupy expression with black fruit aromas of blackberry preserves and prune. You definitely taste the warmth and sunshine in this hot-vintage Sangiovese. The bouquet is intense and rich, but the wine is not as long-lived in terms of mouthfeel. This is a wine of immediate power and volume. - Monica Larner"
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue #235, February 2018), 92 points
"Medium dark red. High-pitched red berry and floral aromas, plus a hint of underbrush and smoked beef adding weight. Shows good depth and spicy red fruit character in the mouth, featuring a creamy texture and flourishes of cinnamon and mocha. The finish showcases lingering red fruit and savory elements. Much deeper and more interesting than Poggio Nardone’s disappointing 2013 Brunello. - Ian D'Agata"
- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (April 2018), 91 points
"Deep cherry flavors darken into tones of tobacco and damp leaves as this robust Brunello is exposed to air. Layers of black spice and grilled meat add dimension, the flavors warmed by ample alcohol.”
- Wine & Spirits Magazine (April 2019), 91 pts
This limited release wine is created from the fusion of two exceptional parcels of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. This classic blend is matured in the finest oak crafting an intriguing unison that captures the essence of the vineyard and highlights its unique varietal expression.
Vintage Overview
2012 was a very good season with predominantly mild, dry days. Yields were generally low and this did result in some excellent parcels of fruit being harvested. Vine-balance was carefully monitored, resulting in fruit that demonstrates the vibrancy and fruit-derived characters that the family strives for in its wines. By all accounts it was a textbook vintage.
Tasting Notes
Deep inky purple in color. Aromas of blackberry, mocha, mint and spices. Lush, ripe palate dominated by black fruits, cherry and chocolate. An expansive palate with black fruits and nicely balanced by oak.
Made with the greatest dedication and care, select parcels were matured in new and seasoned French and American oak for up to 20 months prior to being selected for this blend. Individual barrels from our family estate that best demonstrate the intensity of our fruit, balanced by integrated oak were selected for the final blend, which was then bottled with minimal filtration.
Pairs well with venison, ribeye steak, lamb.
Review:
"A 60-40 blend of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2012 The Bryson Barrel Select offers minty notes layered over dark fruit. Roasted meat, blueberry and cassis also play roles in this full-bodied but structured wine that appears to be at or near peak maturity. - Joe Czerwinski"
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Interim end of September 2018), 93 pts
Cambon la Pelouse Haut Medoc is produced from a careful selection of the grapes. Made from 50% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 15% Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Limited yield: 45 hl/ha.
Aged in oak barrels for 12 months (50% new oak). Intense ruby/purple color. Delicate aromas of red fruit, liquorice, vanilla and caramel. Ripe fruit flavors, well balanced, great harmonious structure, silky tannins and a good length.
Pairs well with game and red meats, cured cheeses.
Review:
"Big and powerful, this is a concentrated and complex wine. Blackberry fruit flavors are strongly based on a tannin structure that is lightly sustained by the wood aging. Merlot dominates the blend, giving a sheen to its richness. Drink from 2018."
- Wine Enthusiast (May 2015), 91 pts - Editors' Choice
Antica Vigna Amarone della Valpolicella Riserva is made from 65% Corvina, 20% Rondinella, 10% Corvinone, 5% Merlot.
Amarone DOCG has maintained unchanged its typicality, so that “the essence of the territory” of Valle di Mezzane and Cazzano di Tramigna powerfully emerges. Rich in color, firmly structured but with fresh notes.
WINEMAKING AND AGING:
Manual harvest early October with selection of the best bunches.
Drying: natural drying in fruit cellar for 3/4 months with a sharp drop in weight of around 30%.
Vinification: soft crushing of destemmed grapes in the months of January and February.
Fermentation: at a controlled temperature of 18/21°C. Fermentation time: about 30 days
Aging:· 80% in oak barrels for 30 months of which 2/3 in American and French barriques, half of which are used for the second and third time, 1/3 in large
THE TERRITORY:
Geographical location: Tenuta di Mezzane, Tenuta di Cazzano di Tramigna
Height: 350/400 meters asl
Exposure: south
Soil type: limestone
Vineyard training system: guyot and pergola
Vine planting year: from 1972 to 2009
Vine density: 4,000 to 5,400 vines per hectare Vineyard management: sustainable agriculture and great attention to natural
cycles
Pairs well with grilled and roasted meats, as well as cheese.
Timeless Notes:
Rich in color, firmly structured but with fresh notes. Complex with depth and elegance on the palate,. Balanced notes of currant and wild berries that blend well with the complexity of the wine. Touches of tobacco and leather notes merge with ripe fruit flavors that linger on long strain tannin. This one is drinking now, but can handle more time in the cellar with ease.
El Ganador Malbec is made from 100% Malbec, hand-harvested vineyards. 10% aged for 6 months in new French oak; then 6 months in the bottle. The wine boasts is a rich ruby-purple color, and displays elegant flavors of black berries, ripe plum and robust spices with good balance and structure.
The Tiza El Ganador Estate
These wines originate with a Spanish family based in Navarra. The grapes come from hand-harvested vineyards situated in Lujan de Cuyo. The winery uses a Marzola Basket Press, which has a solid reputation for quality. The press is hydraulic with an electric engine, and the plates are stainless steel with the bottom plate slanted to allow for maximum drainage. Basket walls are constructed of waterproofed wooden slats joined by stainless steel rings that can be switched out, allowing for continual filling and pressing. The computerized control panel can be programmed in various speeds and pressure, allowing the operator better control for extracting juice. Tiza is a lot specially selected by the importer. 2,500 cases produced, 2,500 cases imported.
The Tiza El Ganador Vineyards
The 220 acres of vines are planted to Malbec (first vines date back to 1912). The vineyard is situated 1,000 meters above sea level and is planted on alluvial soils with subsoils made of stone and sandy/limestone sediments. The quality of the soil together with the high density of vines per hectare contribute to produce very low yields with excellent fruits.
Philippe Milan Pommard AOC is 100% Pinot Noir
This wine has been aged in Oak (25% new Oak)
This is a little more structured and the style goes more toward the
"vin de garde", or wines meant to age. This wine needs some food, or sometime
in the decanter right now. It is well structured and reminds me of a Volnay. As
a matter of fact, the parcel is located right next to Volnay. The finish is
long and still quite juicy with chewy tannins lingering.
Crabitey Graves Rouge is made from 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot.
Château Crabitey Graves Rouge presents a dark cherry color with nice ruby glints. The nose is fresh, revealing a wide range of red fruits flavors, along with a mellow and elegant oak presence. The mouth is powerful and round, supported by smooth and subtle tannins. The wine reveals a good length on the palate, with fruity and slightly oaky notes.
Pairs well is grilled lamb, beef stroganoff and hard cheeses.
Review:
The 2019 Crabitey is gorgeous. Blackberry, gravel, sage, leather, graphite and lavender build as the 2019 shows off its drive and vibrancy. The aromas and flavors are beautifully delineated. Deceptive in its mid-weight feel, the 2019 impresses with its poise and overall balance. - Antonio Galloni"
- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (Primeur tasting, June 2020) 90-92 pts