2006 Achaval Ferrer Quimera

I received this bottle as a gift from someone that I work with. He actually brought it back for me after visiting the vineyard in Argentina, which is pretty damn cool. This was about 6 months ago, before the Parker review. After I saw the review, I was a bit skeptical that I would like this wine--I figured that it would be hugely oaky, over the top, and like licking a jar of jam.

The Quimera is a blend of Malbec, Cabernet, and Merlot. At first whiff, the wine has a nose of rubber and wood, but as it opens up, it reveals smoke, berries, and a very pure streak of cherry. The wine is impeccably balanced, with many layers and nuances of flavor. So I guess that means that I was wrong about what a 94 from Parker means (at least in this case)... This wine is fantastic and is drinking great right now. Currently, you can pick this wine up at K&L for 26$ if you're in one of their wine clubs. I liked this wine so much that I'm going to get a couple more bottles today. A