Staphyle Micro Terroirs Gualtallary Malbec 2020
Mountain Malbec from a stony, limestone-rich vineyard in Gualtallary, Mendoza, at 1,450 metres.
Gualtallary, Tupungato, Mendoza
Tim Atkin 2022 · 92 ptsDescorchados 2023 · 91 pts
Tasting notes
Intense and concentrated, with a sharp, taut line and a distinctly mineral character. The structure is firm, carried by natural acidity that keeps the wine fresh. That freshness runs through to the finish. With extended bottle age it gains in elegance.
Pairs with
- Grilled beef, such as a Patagonian rib eye or sirloin from the grill
- Grilled lamb chops with rosemary
- Beef cheeks braised in red wine
- Aged hard cheeses
Where it comes from
Mendoza, in western Argentina, is a dry, sunny region whose vineyards lie at the foot of the Andes. Malbec, originally from southwest France, found a second home here and became the province's signature grape. Gualtallary is a desert-like, rocky district within Tupungato. This vineyard sits at 1,450 metres, which the winery describes as the upper limit for growing vines in Mendoza. At that height the climate is cooler than in most of the province, which is why Gualtallary has a reputation for fresh, tense reds. The soil matters just as much: poor, alluvial and stony, with sand and a high share of calcium carbonate. Cool air and calcareous ground together produce a Malbec driven by natural acidity rather than sheer ripeness. It belongs to Staphyle's Micro Terroirs range.
Technical sheet
| Vintage | 2020 |
|---|---|
| Grapes | Malbec |
| Region | Gualtallary, Tupungato, Mendoza |
| Altitude | 1.450 m |
From the winery Staphyle
A third-generation Mendoza family with old vines in Agrelo and the first vineyard in the mountains of Potrerillos.