Closet Wine Snob: Tasting Notes – ’08 Clos de los Siete Blend

Our resident Closet Wine Snob’s been hard at work, tasting all sorts of wines for your benefit. We want to share the love and tell you all about what he’s been throwing down the proverbial hatch. Wine is a subjective experience, so don’t think of these as reviews. Instead, we’re passing on our wine-tasting adventures in the hopes you’ll find something that appeals to you. It’s your booze — drink it your way.

The Fine Print

Bottle: Clos de los Siete
Region: Uco Valley, Argentina
Year: 2008
MSRP: $17.99

The Story

The love child of French winemaking expertise and the rich, Malbec-friendly regions of the Argentine; the Clos de los Siete is a product of its complex heritage.

Breaking ground south of Mendoza in the late 80s, this wine is a collaboration of seven prestigious, French Bordeaux wine families. Utilizing their Old World experience in a new territory, these entrepreneurs worked to bring forth a definitively new blend that’s heavily influenced by dominant Malbec roots. This is owed in no small part to the region: fertile, grape-growing soil protected by a wealth of snow-capped peaks.

The Pour

This blend is more than just a simple Malbec, but immediately upon pouring it you’ll encounter some Malbec-like attributes. The rich, grapey aroma is definitively full-throttle Malbec. Its opaque bouquet is black in body everywhere but the rim, where a dark red ring surrounds.

Created amidst the fertile soil of the Uco Valley

The Bottoms-Up

Decanting or, at the very least, aeration is recommended to get full enjoyment out of the Clos de los Siete. A quick taste right out of the bottle is virtually flavor-free, with no sweetness and a very subtle hint of spice at the end.

Given time to breath, however, the Siete cements itself as a worthy companion. Making good on the promise of its heavy aroma, the wine has a well-rounded appeal that delights with heavy-fruiting and rich, able-bodied tannins. For a 2008, the Siete drinks surprisingly well, though we suspect it hasn’t yet reached its full potential yet. The finish is still relatively mild, though the initial taste is strong. It could simply be because the wine is still maturing however, as the tannins might not be as ripe as some ’07 Malbec blends you’ve tried.

If it’s a recommendation you’re looking for, we suggest buying the ’08 now and letting it gain a few years of maturity in your cellar. In the meantime, the Clos de los Siete will also make a great wine for your next red meat meal. Enjoy!