2016-2026 Retrospective from Buenos Aires

Tasting ‘Ten Years’ on from 2016 vintage, as February comes to an end down here in the southern hemisphere. Amongst the upper echelons, there are outstanding wines from Argentina’s 2016 vintage. These successes fulfill all the early promise of the vintage, delivering flesh, spice, concentration, structure and balance. But this is a year in which the cream has risen to the top; outside of the elite, there is much less consistency. The weather reports where not at all favourable for los Argies in 2016. 

Inconsistent quality outside of the top wines places 2016 in the ranks of ‘very good’ vintages and outside of the top tier that includes 2017 and 2019.  On a quality basis, 2016 is at a similar level to 2018, better than the decent or ‘middling’ years of 2014 and 2012 but lacking the brilliance up and down the orders displayed by an outstanding vintage. 

2016 Noemia Malbec was my top scoring wine of the entire tasting with 99/100, followed by Nicolas Catena’s (98/100) top notch, almost Bordeaux blend. The group placed 2016 Piedra Infinta (Zuccardi) as their ‘Numero Uno’, with 2016 Altar (Juampi Michellini) as their 2nd spot. 2016 Henry from Bodega Lagarde came in as everyone’s number 3. The wines where served in pairs & blind. Back in 2018/9, the Robert Parker people gave Piedra Infinita the perfect 100/100 points. The 3rd wine in Argentina to ever have received this acolade. 2011 Cobos and 2013 Gran Enemigo being the other two wines back then. 

Throughout 2016, once you step beyond the big guns, quality becomes less reliable and you have to search a bit harder for any gems. It’s worth remembering that this was a Ten Years On tasting, and a decade can be a long time in wine. Changes in winemaking practices, and even more so farming techniques, mean that wines made today are frequently light years away from their 2016 siblings. 

 The style of the wines emphasises immediacy, generous fruit and plush. At 10 years from vintage, there are 2016s, even these big boys, that are either ready for drinking or not far off.  If you are planning a dinner party in the near future and want to put something smart & from Argentina on the table, you could do a lot worse than a bottle or two of these 2016s. ‘ 

‘If you can find a bottle, that is!” 

I am here for any questions: 

william@worldwineconsultants.com 

”Eight green bottles sitting on the wall, and if one green bottle should accidentally fall….”