Clos de los Siete from Argentina boasts classy look, taste

Oenologist Michel Rolland has successful wine ventures in almost every major wine region on the globe, including his own Chateau Le Bon Pasteur and Fontenil in Bordeaux, France, and partnerships in Spain, South Africa, Chile and now Argentina with this Clos de los Siete.

Rolland also serves as a consultant for some of the greatest winery names, such as Ornellaia, Robert Mondavi, Harlan, Casa Lapostolle and Pontet Canet.

The first thing you notice about Clos de los Siete is its presence. In all its simplicity and elegance, it is a strikingly packaged bottle that just oozes class.

And 2005 is universally the greatest vintage ever produced, and any wine from this fabled year is a must-try. You will find this an amazing wine, especially at less than $20.

As you pour from this bottle, you will notice the wine coming out deeply blackish red with blackish-red streaks, deep purple rim definition and medium-high tinted viscosity.

On the nose, Clos de los Siete comes at you like a freight train, laden with concentrated crushed black fruit, new French oak, creme caramel, vanilla beans and mocha, with spicy peppery undertones and minerals and herbs.

In the mouth, the wine is a dream come true of balance and purity with liquid blackberries, brambleberry juice, hints of cherry and blueberry pie. The midpalate is pierced by white pepper, going into a long, supple, powerfully structured finish that displays immense concentration, yet soft tannins.

Clos de los Siete is probably one of the best Argentinean wines ever made in this price category. It can age for as long as five years, but drinks well now after an hour out of the bottle. A nice piece of Argentinean beef tenderloin blackened on the grill might do the trick for this wine, but it shows great versatility in drinking, so you could try it with just about anything.

Wine: Clos de los Siete

Grapes: Malbec (50 percent), cabernet sauvignon (30 percent), merlot (10 percent), syrah (10 percent)

Region: Andes Foothills, Argentina

Vintage: 2005

Price: $19.99

Gil Lempert-Schwarz's wine column appears Wednesdays. Write him at P.O. Box 50749, Henderson, NV 89016-0749, or e-mail him at gil@winevegas.com.