2015 Bodega Norton Privada Family Blend 750 ml

An Argentine All-Star

The 2015 Bodega Norton Privada Family Blend is a home run, there’s no other way to say it.

First of all, the 2015 Privada scored a knockout 97 points at the Decanter 2017 Asia Wine Awards, and pulled in 95 points from James Suckling, who adored its “Full body,” and “juicy, grainy tannins, tangy acidity, tons of dark plum fruit and a long, chewy finish.”

Secondly, it ranked #60 on Wine Enthusiast’s Top 100 Wines of 2018, squarely earning the 2015 Privada a $100 bottle resume at a fraction of the cost.

Third, it’s crafted by David Bonomi, named to Decanter’s list of South America’s Top 100 Winemakers, from 50-90-year-old vines—the oldest on the Norton estate—in the foothills of the Andes.

The wine itself blends estate grown Malbec, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon in dramatic fashion, as only Argentina can. California couldn’t touch this price to quality ratio with a ten-foot pole.

Founded in 1895, Bodega Norton has maintained some of the most coveted plantings of Malbec in all of Mendoza. Perched in the Lujan de Cuyo subzone, Bodega Norton’s old vines are planted between 2,800 and 3,600 feet in elevation. To say that the air here is fresh would be an understatement. Looking out on the snow-capped Andes, gnarled rootstocks sprout leafy canopies and tight-fisted, deeply concentrated clusters of Malbec, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon, the raw ingredients that lead to bold, silken, expressive reds like the Privada.

Under the stewardship of current owner, Michael Halstrick—a member of the Swarovski family—the century-old estate has expanded its holdings and constructed state-of-the-art facilities to usher in unprecedented levels of quality. That quality is immediately evident in the 2015 Privada.

On top of Suckling’s 95 points, the 2015 Privada was awarded 97 points at the Decanter 2017 Asia Wine Awards, as well as 93 points and a “Best Buy” pick from Wine & Spirits Magazine. The accolades are many and well deserved as the 2015 is rich and full of class, exuding chocolatey dark fruit at every turn, complemented by savory herbs, anise, and espresso notes.