2022 Pulenta Estate Malbec, Mendoza

Violets, dark fruit pulp and blackberries. Medium- to full-bodied with lots of fruit and fine-grained tannins. Pristine and fruit-driven finish. A wine to enjoy now for the fruit. Drink now or hold.

91 points jamessuckling.com

Pulenta Estate Malbec from Mendoza is a polished, high-altitude red that offers all the rich fruit and depth you'd expect from Argentine Malbec, but with a sleek, modern edge. Sourced from vineyards in Alto Agrelo and the Uco Valley — two of Mendoza's premier subregions — this wine reflects the Pulenta family’s focus on precision, balance and varietal purity.

The fruit is hand harvested, gently destemmed and fermented in stainless steel, with a portion aged for 12 months in French oak barrels, some of which are new. The result is a wine that marries ripe concentration with elegance and restraint, steering away from excess and toward finesse.

On the nose, it opens with blackberry, black plum, violets, mocha and a touch of graphite. The palate is medium to full bodied with juicy black fruit, cocoa, clove, and a hint of tobacco leaf. Tannins are smooth and integrated, while bright acidity keeps the finish fresh, dry and long, with a subtle mineral lift.

Food pairing: ideal with grilled ribeye, lamb chops with chimichurri, mushroom empanadas, or a rich lentil stew. Also great with roasted eggplant or aged cheeses like manchego or provoleta.

Cellar potential: drinking beautifully now, but will evolve over the next 7 to 10 years, gaining savoury and spicy complexity.