"Malbec is a philosophy, not a religion," says Matervini winemaker Santiago Achával. "When the wines get attention, the valley gets attention. The oldest vetted long-term source of originality is the land."
Malbec thrives in the unique landscape of Argentina. Warm and arid, with many vineyards planted at elevations ranging between 2,200 and 6,500 feet, Argentina is the only major wine region to account for elevation in its understanding of terroir. As a result, the difference in temperature between vineyards in lower-lying areas around the city of Mendoza, situated at approximately 2,500 feet, and the highest vineyards in Uco Valley, which stand around 5,200 feet, would be analogous to growing grapes in Napa Valley versus Champagne-only these Argentine locales are within an hour's drive of each other, rather than thousands of miles apart. Somehow, Malbec does well in these varied climates.
"The beauty of Malbec is its plasticity to grow in many different places with high quality and show differently," says Achával. "When you find a piece of land that has an identity, you need to recognize it as such and codify it."
For the past two decades, Argentinian winemakers have been keying in on how best to represent Malbec, which has become the country's calling card. The unifying opinion is that Malbec is a translator of place, and that capturing the diversity of Argentina's many subregions and transmitting their terroir in the wines is paramount to the grape's global success. There's no denying it-Argentine Malbec is evolving. "We're more conscious of place, and we're winning with texture, balance and freshness," says Familia Zuccardi winemaker Sebastián Zuccardi.
Denne historien er fra November 30, 2022-utgaven av Wine Spectator.
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Denne historien er fra November 30, 2022-utgaven av Wine Spectator.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
New Zealand's Success Story
From small beginnings, the country’s wines have ascended to global prominence
Wine Is Healthiest Choice for Drinkers
Decades of research has linked light to moderate drinking, especially of wine, to a range of health benefits.
In Pursuit of the Perfect Crust
“Dough is always the hardest challenge for any home chef,” explains chef and restaurateur Tony Gemignani. “But it’s the foundation of any great pizza.”
SEAVEY VINEYARD
In Napa’s Conn Valley, a family-run winery marches to its own drum
CALIFORNIA RHONES Show Their Range
RECENT VINTAGES DELIVER EXCELLENT REDS AND WHITES IN AN ARRAY OF STYLES
Tuscany Comes of Age
Anchored by the 2021 vintage, Tuscan reds set a new standard of quality
The Absolute Best Places to Eat and Drink in America
PROFILES OF THE 63 WINE SPECTATOR GRAND AWARD WINNERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TODAY, AS THE PROGRAM MARKS ITS 44TH YEAR
Events- A Grand Tour for Wine Spectator- a perfect day with an evening of outstanding wines.
A young couple in shorts and festival shirts sped into the ballroom of the New Orleans Marriott on a mission.
Big Wine Players Target Pinot Noir - Plenty of small winery owners are cashing out, either because they're looking to retire or they see selling as the best way to keep their label growing
Plenty of small winery owners are cashing out, either because they’re looking to retire or they see selling as the best way to keep their label growing
Restaurant Awards- Lazy Bear- Lazy Bear bills itself as a modern American dinner party. But it's so much more.
Lazy Bear bills itself as a modern American dinner party. But it’s so much more. This Mission District restaurant effortlessly strips away the formality of a multicourse dinner and replaces it with conviviality, nostalgia and curiosity. With reverence for time and place, Lazy Bear is an ode to California where guests dine in concert with the season and can explore diverse wines, including an impressive collection of older California vintages.
