Viñalba Gran Reserva Malbec 2017

I was lucky enough to walk these vineyards a few months ago and spent some time with the family behind Viñalba. The old gnarled vines growing well at impossibly high altitudes require extremely dedicated attention. And the old world influence of the French-born winemaker leads to wines of not only the trademark Mendoza power, but also a nuance and elegance that lift them to the next level. Everything is done by hand from the vineyard to the winery and the resulting malbec is left to rest in fine French oak for twelve months. There’s a distinct pleasure in drinking this wine and understanding the cultural connection between the modern malbec of Mendoza and it’s origins in France. What a journey!