2021 Achaval Ferrer Bella Vista Malbec, Mendoza

Really ripe and opulent but deep and complex on the nose with an undertone of blackberries, tar, balsam and a hint of figs. Naturally concentrated, flavorful, super silky and plush, but there is nice freshness on the palate. Extremely long and hedonistic. I’d rate it even higher were there a tad more freshness on the nose. Drink or hold.

95 points jamessuckling.com

Deriving from vines planted in 1910 on sandy clay soils above alluvial stones, the 2021 Malbec Finca Bella Vista beautifully captures the soft, elegant richness of Perdriel. It leads with a dark-fruited yet pretty, lifted bouquet, introducing a sumptuous and velvety palate. The finish is saturated, concentrated and inky, framed with refined tannins and a graphite-laden core. In the glass, this continued to develop an increasingly savory profile and intensity on the finish. It's a beautiful and seductive expression of Malbec from Luján de Cuyo.

94+ points Matthew Luczy robertparker.com Drink Date: 2026 - 2036

Achaval Ferrer Bella Vista Malbec is one of Argentina’s most iconic and historically important Malbecs, sourced from the legendary Bella Vista vineyard in Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza. This vineyard was planted in 1910, making it one of the oldest Malbec sites in the country, and it sits at around nine hundred and twenty metres above sea level on deep alluvial soils of sand, clay and rounded stones deposited by the Mendoza River over millennia. These old vines are naturally low yielding, producing small berries with incredible concentration, structure and aromatic depth. Bella Vista is a cornerstone of Achaval Ferrer’s philosophy, proving that vine age and site are just as important as altitude in defining great Mendoza Malbec.

Achaval Ferrer was founded in the late nineteen nineties by Santiago Achával and Manuel Ferrer, two pioneers who challenged the prevailing Argentine wine model by focusing obsessively on single vineyards, old vines and extremely low yields. Their belief was simple but radical at the time, that world class wine is made in the vineyard, not in the cellar. Under the guidance of winemakers Roberto Cipresso and later the estate team, Achaval Ferrer developed a minimalist approach that avoided over extraction and excessive oak, allowing vineyard character to speak clearly. Bella Vista quickly emerged as one of the estate’s most profound wines, showcasing a deeper, more classical and structured side of Malbec compared to the brighter high altitude expressions of the Uco Valley.

In the glass Achaval Ferrer Bella Vista Malbec shows a deep, opaque violet colour, opening slowly to reveal complex aromas of blackberry, black cherry, plum, violets, graphite, cocoa and subtle earthy spice. The palate is powerful and layered yet remarkably composed, delivering dense dark fruit, savoury notes and a firm mineral core framed by fine, persistent tannins that give the wine great authority and length. There is a sense of gravitas and restraint here, a wine that unfolds gradually rather than announcing itself all at once. It is magnificent with grilled beef, lamb, game and richly flavoured dishes, and it is built for long term cellaring, evolving effortlessly for twenty years or more as it develops notes of tobacco, leather, truffle and dried flowers.

Achaval Ferrer Bella Vista Malbec is not just a benchmark for Argentine Malbec, but a benchmark for old vine wine anywhere in the world, combining history, place and precision in a wine of real depth and quiet power.