Maipe 'Reserve' Malbec 2009

Robert Parker 90
"My three favorite Maipe red wines include the 2009 Malbec Reserve, the winery's top selection that is aged in wood for 12 months. A dense blue/purple color is followed by a big, sweet, floral (acacias), blueberry, blackberry, coffee, and white chocolate-scented bouquet. Remarkably rich and heady, with a full-bodied mouthfeel as well as silky tannins, it should be consumed over the next 2-3 years." RECOMMENDED VALUE PICK

Maipe was the lord of the winds to the ancient Andean people. The wines are produced by Bodegas Chakana in the Luján de Cuyo subregion of Mendoza. Juan Pelizzatti founded Chakana on May 2, 2002 the day The Souther Cross (Chakana in Mapuche) reaches a perfectly vertical position, marking the beginning of a new farming cycle.

Their vineyards are are both in Agrelo, Luján de Cuyo, in the foothills of the Andes Mountains at an altitude of 3,000 feet above sea level. Agrelo is a cool climate region in Argentina's premier grape growing area. Their three fincas are home to some very special plots of 100+ year old Malbec vines. Currently the estate is in the process of a Biodynamic viticulture conversion and certification. Winemakers Gabriel Bloise, Liliana Iannizzotto and consultant Alberto Antonini are crafting wines that are an expression of old vines, deep rich soils and a commitment to excellence.