Santa Florentina Malbec Syrah 2005

Bodega

Range

Wine

Vintage

Origin

Price

Santa Florentina

n/a

Malbec Syrah

2005

Valles del Famatina, La Rioja

AR$8 (US$3)

Appearance

Light, bright ruby red.

Nose

Plums and blackcurrants - dark fruit. Hints of vanilla, pepper and some toasty oak.

Palate

Lightish body. Despite the nose, red fruit on the palate - cherries - but lacking in vibrancy or intensity. Good acid structure, few tannins, and smooth on the front palate. Complexities of spices and liquorice lead into a warm finish. However, the finish is somewhat spoiled by a slightly bitter and oily aftertaste.

Overall

This wine shows promise on the nose and front palate, but is seriously lacking in either ripe and mouth-filling fruit, or dry and savoury characters. There are some flavour complexities, but rather than providing interest, when combined with the off-putting bitter aftertaste, they tend instead to contribute to a an overall impression of disharmony. A passable choice to accompany pastas, but there are much better wines for the price.

**

(August 06)