Bodega Norton Lote Negro 2021

I found a lot more elegance, freshness and integration of oak in the 2021 Lote Negro than in the 2020 that I tasted next to it. The Malbec comes from Los Chacayes and the Cabernet Franc from Altamira, both IGs in the Valle de Uco. It’s still ripe and powerful, with around 14.7% alcohol, and it has abundant tannins that might require some more time. Rating: 93+ Norton is in the top five of exporting wineries from Argentina, together with Trapiche, Catena, Trivento and Zuccardi. They own 720 hectares of vineyards in Mendoza, in Luján de Cuyo, Maipú and Medrano and work with 2,000+ growers to produce a total of 26 million bottles. With this volume, there are always some new labels. They are one of the few wineries that have kept old vintages in good condition, as the winery dates back to 1895.  Luis Gutiérrez, Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate