La Craie

Score

98

"In the hilly area of Monasterio in Gualtallary, the chalky soils of Monte Alabanza hold a mix of Malbec and Cabernet Franc vineyards that slightly face toward the south. Sourced from these vines, the 2022 La Craie is 75% Malbec and 25% Cabernet Franc, aged for 16 months in used oak barrels. Purple in hue, its delicate aromas reveal ash, cherry, plum, sage, blood orange, olive and herbs. The palate is serious and fresh, with extremely fine tannins and a lively, fluid feel. It™s an infusion-style wine with lingering sage in the background, compact yet energetic with a talc-like texture. This superb wine reflects the mild, dry 2022 vintage with a nuanced, pure core."

Score

98+

"The 2022 La Craie is a phenomenal expression of Gualtallary, exuding remarkable precision, delineation and composure from front to back. It opens with a radiantly floral bouquet that combines weightless intensity, unwavering focus and ever-expanding dimension. The palate is similarly complex, merging density and buoyancy with an effortless grace that runs through the strikingly long, spherical and expansive finish. The tannin profile here is particularly impressive, taking the impeccable refinement that permeates the Per Se range to another level of sophistication. As beautiful as this is now, it is palpably primary at this stage, and my score may prove conservative with additional time in bottle."

Score

98

"The 2021 La Craie derives from a south-facing parcel on Monte Alabanza of co-planted, stake-trained Malbec (~70%) and Cabernet Franc (~30%) vines planted on a sandy calcareous hilltop with shallow topsoils. The two varieties were co-fermented in 500-liter concrete tanks and matured for 16 months in 225-liter well-used barrique. It opens with the most expressive, lifted and multidimensional bouquet of the Per Se roster, combining savory, floral, herbal and stony aromas with ever-increasing complexity and volume. The palate is a delicious and compelling combination of density, tenacity and elegance, seamlessly releasing into a long, juicy and layered finish that slowly morphs into a crystalline expression of mineral-driven power and ultra-refined tannins. This is drinking fantastically already, but I do not doubt that additional patience will reap further rewards"

Score

97

"The 2021 La Craie is a co-fermentation of Malbec and 25% Cabernet Franc from a tiny calcareous plot on the south-facing slope of the Monasterio Hill in the Gualtallary district of Uco Valley. A rich purple with a garnet sheen. The primary, nuanced nose has a distinctive, alluring profile: sage, mint and ash combine with blood orange, violets and hints of damp earth. On the palate, it has a chalky core that pumps energy into the lean tannic structure. This tea-like, flirtatious red will undoubtedly develop further in the bottle."