Vaglio Chacra Malbec

Argentina’s flagship grape is the Malbec. Malbec originates from the Cahors region in the southwest of France. The wines from Cahors are big, bold and rustic, they have a savoriness to them, tart, firm tannins and meaty with plum. Whereas the Argentina Malbec are black fruit-forward, plummy with a velvety texture. The grape is thin skinned, needs lots of sunshine and dry climate but not too much sun or it will turn into a jam bomb. It asl o needs a certain type of soil to thrive, ie. limestone or calcareous soil which challenges the grape to dig deep and seek water to ripen while maintaining it’s acidity. Grapes need stress to thrive which is rather the opposite to what one would think. The need certain stress such as water stress and lack of nutrients at certain times in the growth phases in order to thrive.

This particular wine from winemaker Jose Lovaglio Balbo is from Gualtallary in Valle de Uco region in Mendoza, Argentina. The grapes grown at an altitude of 3,838 feet which contributes a freshness and balanced acidity to the wine. The soils are calcareous soils with stony alluvial origins contribute the minerality and lighter style of the wine. The vines were planted in 2008. The wine is made a single vineyard grown in a micro-climate. The wine is fermented with natural yeasts with a 3 months of lees aging. The wine is then matured in 40% new French oak for 8 months. This is Jose’s independent project from the family Susana Balbo Wines (which I greatly admire and adore) his winemaking style creates beautiful wines that are truly unique to their climate, terroir and vineyard.

This wine is a deep purple color. The aromas of fresh baked blueberry pie, rich ripe plum, chocolate, graphite and minerals jump out of the glass. The palate is dry with flavors of ripe blueberry, rich ripe plum, chocolate, graphite, minerals, butterscotch, chocolate, pepper and hazelnut. It’s balanced, lengthy, creamy and delicious.

Paired with made roasted pork with apples and plums and mashed sweet potatoes and turnip.