Mendel Malbec 2020

A perfumed red with notes of fresh wild berries, just-picked violets, sweet spices and cocoa-dusted walnuts. Medium-to full-bodied with layers of plush, polished tannins and a lingering, silky mouth-feel. Velvety and seamless with delicious blue-fruit and blue-flower character.

The 2020 Malbec is a blend of grapes from Drummond and Perdriel, Luján de Cuyo. The vines date back to 1926. Aged for 12 months in one-third new barrels. Purple in the glass. The nose offers intense aromas of violet, fresh plum, gentle woody notes and hints of spice. Plush, broad and agile with refined, polished tannins. The texture is a combination of silk and velvet. Well-made, given the year.

Hailing from vineyards planted in 1947 in Altamira in Uco Valley, this red offers delicious aromas of prune and chocolate with light notes of black olive. The palate is fruit-focused and has depth, delivering layers of cherry, prune and hints of chocolate and vanilla. Vigorous acidity and chalky tannins hold it all together and lead to a pleasant finish showing oak spice.

The estate 2020 Malbec was produced with grapes from their property in Mayor Drummond (Finca Mendel) that was planted in 1928. It fermented in stainless steel and matured in French oak barrels, one-third each new, second and third use, for 12 months. It has 14.5% alcohol and a soft and round palate with integrated acidity. De la Mota thinks this 2020 is very representative of the zone of Lujan even if they harvest it a little earlier, and it has a little more fresh fruit, using the oak to keep that character, a balance between ripe and fresh fruit that is very interesting. It is juicy and primary with very fine tannins. A wine that overdelivers for the price. 88,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in November 2021. Best After 2022.