Freddy R. Troya

9.1

Clos de los Siete by Michel Roland, Malbec Blend 2021, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina 🇦🇷

Overview
A Bordeaux-inspired blend led by 59% Malbec, 15% Merlot, 13% Syrah, 6% Cabernet Franc, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 3% Petit Verdot, crafted under the vision of Michel Rolland. Compared to the 2019 vintage, the higher proportion of Malbec gives the 2021 greater concentration, depth, and a more distinctly Argentine personality while maintaining its polished French-inspired elegance.

Aromas & Flavors
Ripe blackberry, black plum, cassis, violet, dark chocolate, espresso, graphite, cedar, and sweet baking spices unfold in generous layers. The fruit feels darker and more concentrated, revealing additional complexity with air.

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied with a luscious, velvety texture and beautifully integrated tannins. The extra Malbec brings added richness and depth, while vibrant acidity keeps the wine energetic. The finish is notably longer, more textured, and impressively persistent.

Food Pairings
Argentine asado, grilled ribeye, lamb chops, braised beef, mushroom risotto, aged Manchego, or hard Alpine cheeses.

Verdict
An outstanding evolution of Clos de los Siete that leans into a deeper, more expressive profile without sacrificing balance. Richer, more textured, and exceptionally harmonious, the 2021 stands out as one of the strongest recent vintages of this iconic blend.

Did You Know?
Although Clos de los Siete is inspired by Bordeaux, the increasing prominence of Malbec in recent vintages reflects the confidence of Argentina’s Uco Valley terroir, allowing the region’s signature grape to take center stage while the Bordeaux varieties provide structure and finesse.

🍷 Personal Pick
Having enjoyed both vintages, I found the 2021 even more compelling than the already excellent 2019 (also reviewed in Delectable). The additional Malbec adds a deeper core of fruit, greater texture, and a remarkably persistent finish that elevates the wine into an even more complete and satisfying expression. It has officially become my favorite Clos de los Siete vintage to date. — 2 days ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.4

Gpo vision jrz — 2 years ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.2

RA y Vision, Barrio — 2 years ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.3

RA y Vision, Barrio — 2 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Blend of 80% Syrah and 20% Merlot, first vintage of such blend. Deep Ruby, purple hues with aromas of dark berry fruits, floral and spice. On the palate flavors of dark cherry and ripe blackberry, with notes of floral spice and vanilla oak. Fine soft tannins, long finish ending with sweet fruit and spice and a splash of minerality. — 4 years ago

Adriana Fabbro

9.2

Hey, Delectable— this is the Visions 2018 North Coast Pinot, but the ID wasn’t available.

Unabashedly ripe and warm, but with a distinctive umami flavor (hoisin sauce?) that I’m really digging. Black cherry, black plum and even blue fruit on the nose and palette. Lovely satiny texture. Medium + finish.

Hedonistic in the way you’d expect from a winemaker mentored by the Wagners, but the suppleness and umami notes make this wine stand out in a sea of north coast Pinot Noir, and the absence of new oak lets the fruit do the taking. Perfect with chicken lettuce wraps and haricot verts smothered in Madeira mushroom cream sauce.

Owner/founder, Mac Macdonald, has been making his own California Pinot Noir for more than 25 vintages now and it shows. Side note: he’s also one of the better story tellers in the biz.

Initially sampled as part of a tasting with the #AAAV (Association of African American Vintners) and took the bottle home.
— 5 years ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.3

6lts grupo vision — 4 months ago

Shay A

9.2

Picked up a couple of these from a local cellar sale at a crazy cheap price and have been happy with each one.

Classically older SLD Cabernet. The fruit spectrum is on the red and black side (as I expect from SLD) with a mocha/cocoa layered sweetness. Some older fig, sweet pipe tobacco, and a core of fruit still in-tact. Soft on the mid-palate but retaining nice structure throughout the finish. Exactly what I expected from 34yr old Napa Cabernet.

Hope to try the Realm X Hartwell wine to see the vision from where this was to what the profile goal is in the future. — a year ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.4

RA y Vision, Barrio — 2 years ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.2

RA y Vision, Barrio — 2 years ago

Aaron Tan

8.9

I must compliment Delectable’s computer vision algo here - such a blur photo and it took only a second to correctly identify the wine! For me, this was the better of the 2011 duo in our line-up. More complexity and purer, with intense black fruits lifted by a lick of VA. Not my kind of wine, but an interesting data point in our blind line-up. — 4 years ago

Ron R

9.4

Nose is dominated by flowers and cinnamon. Palate displays coffee notes, sandalwood, smoke and star anise. Tannins are still prominent, as is the acidity. It’s so vibrant and textured. The finish just extends and expands. Another one of our domestic pinot faves.
I was thrilled to read in a recent WS article shared by a friend, that TRB has taken full ownership of this winery. He has a compelling vision for its future. Schrader inadvertently threw shade on this. That’s going to change going forward. — 5 years ago

with Anne-marie

Ericsson

9.5

Mariano’s Garcias crown jewel, he was the front man at Vega Sicilia for three decades. He then founded Aalto with the vision of creating the highest quality RdD which you didn’t have to wait fifteen years to enjoy. Many think he’s done it! I pretty much agree. — 6 months ago

Doug Powers

9.2

Medium-dark red-purple color, beautiful redfruit aromas and flavors, with medium-toast oak showing as a seasoning the background, pretty sound structure and backbone, solid acidity, long, lingering finish, excellent California mountain Merlot (w/25% Cabernet Sauvignon). The sheer quality and complexity of this bottle is a wonderful tribute to the vision of Barbara and Jim Richards, who I am certain would be very proud, with Paloma now being ably run by their son Sheldon and his family. — 6 months ago

with Jim

Alvaro Bustillos

9.2

RA y Vision, Barrio — 2 years ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.4

RA y Vision, Barrio — 2 years ago

Perry Riddle

8.9

Wow. Holding up beautifully. — 4 years ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.4

Vision juarez — 5 years ago

Julia Miller

8.9

Lovely, light and fresh. Really affordable enjoyed best in the sun. — 6 years ago

Benjamin Hettema

10

Fantastic! — 6 years ago