Hey Malbec 2023

A fun label and an equally fun wine from one of Argentina’s most exciting young winemakers . Matias Riccitelli is making a range of wines that challenge many of the preconceptions of the Mendoza region. His wines are made with elegance and express a more raw side than polished by too much aging. In other words, its wines give the impression of having been cultivated and not overly elaborated.

T he harvest begins in early March until the first week of April and the grapes come from Luján de Cuyo as well as the heights of the Uco Valley : 2 regions with very high quality terroirs for Malbec. This beautiful wine is a pure and vibrant interpretation of Malbec . Everything is hand-picked and the vinification is done without the addition of any chemical element. The aging continues in small concrete eggs and used French oak barrels for at least 9 months .

The color is very dark, almost black to the eye, which suggests a beautiful concentration. The juicy black fruits ( blackberries and blackcurrants ) mingle with violet and black pepper , with soft and ripe tannins for a soft and opulent finish without forgetting a beautiful acidity that balances everything.

Although Argentina is considered the "new world", its wine tradition is much older than one might think, dating back to the time of Spanish colonization, in the 16th century and then by Italian settlers. Unlike Chile, wine has long been part of the country's culture. No wine-producing country in the world has made more progress in the last years of the 20th century (on the viticultural and oenological level and necessarily financially) which has allowed the country's wine producers to increase quality levels and have succeeded in consolidating an international export market. Argentina has now become the fifth largest wine producing country in the world, after France, Italy, Spain and the United States. Viticulture is practiced mainly in the foothills of the Andes, and more particularly in Mendoza, where the desert landscapes and high altitudes combine to give rise to aromatic and intensely perfumed wines. Some vineyards can even be planted up to 3000 meters above sea level! The terroir here is well suited to the grape variety adopted by Argentina: the omnipresent Malbec. Originally from Bordeaux, he is today responsible for some of the most famous Argentinian wines, which are characterized by their brightness and intensity, with floral notes and dark fruit flavors. Other red varieties produced in Argentina are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Bonarda, Syrah, Tempranillo and Pinot Noir. Among white wines, the emblematic grape variety of the Argentine wine region is Torrontés, which gives a wine with a floral and tropical taste. The country also produces Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio. Today, Argentinian wines are recognized throughout the world for their full-bodied reds and as high-quality wines.