A layered and very soft red with checked yet unctuous tannins. Full body and caressing texture. Plenty of meat, earth and decadent notes. Great finish. A joy to taste. Drink or hold.

The three reds from Adrianna vineyard felt quite homogeneous in quality; perhaps the slightly warmer years provide more even wines, and the cooler vintages tend to show more differences. Having said that, I was quite impressed by the 2017 Adrianna Vineyard Mundus Bacillus Terrae, a wine that is usually more backward and is sold later than the other two. There is clout and power but with balance and finesse. The ripeness is very contained, and the texture on the palate is similar to the other two. I guess they harvested earlier to compensate the lower yields and the warm end of the season. Rating: 97+

The flagship is the 2014 Malbec Mundus Bacillus Terrae Adrianna Vineyard, which sees a long cold soak and a relatively short maceration followed by two years in a mix of different barrels. Cut from the same cloth as the Fortuna Terrae, yet with another level of elegance, its deep purple color is followed by a fabulous bouquet of blueberries, damp river rocks, violets, white truffle, and forest floor. This is followed by a medium to full-bodied, elegant, beautifully balanced Malbec that has terrific purity, a seamless texture, and beautiful length on the finish. It’s pure class and will keep for 15-20 years or more.