2021 PerSe Iubileus Malbec Gualtallary Mendoza

The 2021 Malbec Iubileus is sourced from a tiny calcareous plateau on the Monasterio Hill in Gualtallary, Uco Valley. A rich purple in color. The nose offers enchanting notes of violet, lavender, mint and sage against a blueberry and crushed plum backdrop. The lean and supple structure, chalky tannins and taut, refreshing mouthfeel precede a delicate, long-lasting finish. This is an unusual, primary and nuanced Malbec, with an alluring high-altitude character. "Delicious" would be the most word juste here.

The 2021 Iubileus showcases a narrow strip of northwest-facing, stake-trained vines on Monte Alabanza planted in sandy, calcareous soils slightly deeper than those represented in the La Craie bottling. It was destemmed and fermented in 500-liter concrete vats before maturing for 16 months in 225-liter used barrique. Opening with an alluring, ethereal bouquet of red fruits, chalk dust and dried herbs, the palate is silky, refined and understated, concluding with a taut, upright and mineral-driven finish framed with grainless yet grippy tannins. This was a touch reticent relative to the 2022 iteration I tasted next to it, and I suspect it will reward additional time in bottle.