2023 Terrazas de los Andes Reserva Malbec, Mendoza

This opens with earthy notes, dark fruit and dark olives, lifted by a subtle floral character. The palate is fresh and approachable with a clean, uncomplicated finish. The grapes for this wine come from various sites, predominantly Altamira. Drink now.

92 points jamessuckling.com

Terrazas de los Andes has built its reputation on championing the extraordinary conditions of Mendoza’s high-altitude vineyards. Established in the early 1990s under the guidance of Moët Hennessy, the estate was founded on the belief that Argentina’s finest wines would come from carefully selected mountain terroirs. Today, the winery farms a mosaic of estate-owned plots in Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley, many between 1,000 and 1,250 metres above sea level. These elevated sites benefit from an ideal combination of intense mountain sunlight, low humidity, and wide day-night temperature swings, which slow ripening and preserve acidity, while deep alluvial soils encourage vine roots to search far for nutrients and water. This natural balance produces Malbec of striking colour, lifted aromatics, and impressive structure. Over the decades, Terrazas de los Andes has become synonymous with Argentinian high-altitude Malbec, its wines consistently recognised for combining vibrant fruit with refined elegance.

The Terrazas de los Andes Reserva Malbec Mendoza is a layered, expressive red that captures the signature profile of its origin. It pours an inky violet, releasing aromas of ripe black cherry, juicy plum, and blueberry alongside floral tones of violet and wild herbs, accented by cocoa, cedar, and a touch of tobacco leaf. On the palate, rich flavours of dark berries, cassis, and mocha glide over a frame of velvety tannins, supported by a lively backbone of acidity that keeps the wine fresh and food-friendly.

Ageing in a combination of French oak barrels adds subtle spice and texture without overpowering the fruit. It’s a wine that handles a range of dishes effortlessly, from chargrilled ribeye and slow-braised lamb to roasted duck with blackberry glaze or a hearty mushroom and lentil stew. While already drinking beautifully, it will reward cellaring for up to eight years, evolving toward more savoury, earthy complexity with time.