2017 Finca La Luz Callejon del Crimen Malbec Gran Reserva Uco Valley Mendoza 750 ml

Finca La Luz’s 95-point 2017 Callejon del Crimen Malbec stands shoulder to shoulder with world-renowned Uco Valley bottlings in overall quality, but far outmatches them in dollar-for-dollar might. Hailing from vineyards that sit nearly 4,000 feet up in the clear-skied Andes foothills, this Gran Reserva draws fruit from three of the area’s most prestigious sub-regions: Vista Flores, Paraje Altamira, and Gualtallary. 

Decanter called the 2017 Gran Reserva “harmonious” with an “elegant palate with fine tannins and beautifully judged oak.” Aromas of peppered plums, black currant, and black cherry cascade from the glass before fresh mountain herbs, saddle leather, tobacco, and cured meat take over. Waves of dark fruit coat the palate while a sophisticated minerality and smoky savoriness add multidimensionality and class. 

After nearly 100 years stewarding the land in the Uco Valley, the Núñez family, owners of Finca La Luz, know exactly how to harness its greatness. To craft the Grand Reserva, they took the best of each sub-region to paint a stunning portrait of Uco’s grandeur. 

The Gran Reserva’s robust structure and savoriness traces back to old-vine plantings in Paraje Altamira. Located in the southern half of the Uco Valley, Altamira boasts rocky, calcareous soils that force vines deep in search of water and nutrients, helping to yield full-throttle, mineral-driven Malbec. To the north, in the region’s highest elevations, Gualtallary produces softer, more herbal Malbecs with impressive aromatic lift. Between the two, Vista Flores, criss-crossed with a multitude of streams and rivers that originate high in the Andes, brings forth bright and fresh Malbecs with vibrant lines of acidity. 

Seamlessly woven, these three heralded sites come together in one kaleidoscopic, overachieving Malbec.