Altocedro La Consulta Select 2018

92 Points, James Suckling
Aromas of black plums, baked blueberries, stewed cherries, vanilla, cocoa butter and sandalwood. It’s full-bodied with creamy tannins. Rich, bold and intense. Hint of chocolate at the finish. Drink or hold

92 Points, Tasting Panel
We were wowed by this blend of 40% Malbec, 19% Syrah, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Tempranillo, 9% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Merlot grown on vineyards at 3,330 feet above sea level and aged eight months in (70% new) French oak barrels. Graphite and espresso notes are drying at first, but the palate then opens up like a wide double door, leading to velvety notes of big, bold, and tarry fruit. Blackberry preserves peek through black walnut and plum tannins.

91+ Points, Parker’s Wine Advocate
The 2018 La Consulta Select is a co-fermentation of 37% Malbec, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Cabernet Franc, 11% Merlot, 10% Tempranillo and 5% Syrah, all aged in second and third use French oak barrels for 12 months. It’s floral and harmonious, complex and nuanced, with nice integration of the different varieties and the wine with the oak. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins and a balanced palate with nice texture and a chalky mouthfeel.

91 Points, Stephen Tanzer – Vinous
“Bright ruby-red. Aromas of black cherry, spices, menthol and crushed rock are complicated by a honey nuance. At once dense and juicy, with youthful flavors of black fruits, spices and flowers offering a captivating restrained sweetness. Finishes with sneaky rising length and nicely supported dusty tannins. I suspect this well-balanced wine will gain in complexity and length with a couple more years of bottle age. Incendally, this is the only one of these three Karim Mussi wines that saw some new oak, in this case 20% with the rest second-use barrels.”