Dark and winey, delivering anise, plum sauce and mulled currant fruit carried by a dark graphite note. The long finish stretches out as this airs in the glass, with enough racy fruit to offset the slight raisined hint. Drink now. 3,073 cases made, 1,875 cases imported.??–JM??Region: Argentina / Mendoza Select to Add

(40% malbec, 22% merlot, 20% cabernet sauvignon, 14% cabernet franc and 4% petit verdot) Saturated medium ruby. Pungent aromas of black cherry, cassis, bitter chocolate, cocoa powder, clove and mint. Silky on entry, then vibrant and a bit high-toned in the middle, with strong, almost peppery acidity energizing the mid-palate, and enticing floral perfume and sexy oak providing lift. A juicy and penetrating rather than fleshy style, this will need time to come into harmony.

Smoke, leather and game aromas mix with blackberry, while the palate is juicy, with plenty of crispness. Like many A-F wines, Quimera, a blend of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cab Franc and Petit Verdot, is tangy and lively. Flavors of red currants and cherry have a high-toned personality, and the finish is bold. Drink now through 2014.——W.E.(5/1/2011)—— 88