Trapiche Iscay 1997 Merlot Malbec, 6L

ISCAY means two in Quechuan, orginal language of the Incas, who inhabited both sides of the Andes Mountains when European settlers arrived in Argentina. As a tribute to Inca culture, Trapiche has chosen this Quechuan word to symbolize the union of two winemakers, who have come together to produce this uniquely Argentine wine. ISCAY is selected from the finest fruit on the Trapiche estate, fermented with native yeast, and given a long maceration. It is bottled unfined and unfiltered to safeguard its inherent qualities. Created by world-renown Bordeaux Magician Michel Rolland and Trapiche winemaker Angel Mendoza, this superior wine is a 50-50 blend of the very best Merlot and Malbec grapes from selected parcels of Trapiches most prized vineyards: Las Palmas (Malbec) and El Chiche (Merlot). After a soft pressing and natural malo-lactic, the fruit is aged in small Tronçais barrels for 16 months before bottling. The final result is a voluptuous, hedonistic delight! The wine shows a wild lush and exotic character, offering gorgeously rich, bold aromas and flavors of black truffles, earth, and chocolate---all wrapped in an exquisite harmony of supervelvety tannins.