La Mascota Malbec 2023

La Mascota Malbec
La Mascota Malbec comes from Cruz de Piedra in Maipú, one of Mendoza's oldest and most respected wine growing areas, where the vines sit on alluvial clay loam soils at around 850 metres above sea level. The wine is made by Mascota Vineyards, established in 2010 by the Peñaflor group under third generation winemaker Rodolfo 'Opi' Sadler, who has more than thirty years of experience across the region. 2023 was a warm vintage in Mendoza, so the grapes were picked early to hold onto freshness and balance rather than let ripeness run ahead of acidity. Nine months in old oak barrels adds a layer of gentle complexity without covering up the wine's fruit.

What the winery says:
In the glass it's an intense purple red with ruby hues, leading into aromas of black fruit, jam and vanilla with a subtle touch of liquorice. The palate opens sweet and full bodied, with ripe tannins carrying through to a long, pleasant finish. At 13.5 percent alcohol it has real richness without feeling heavy, and it's built for the grill, equally happy alongside a steak, beef empanadas or slow roasted lamb shoulder.

What the experts say:
James Suckling, jamessuckling.com (2023 vintage) - 90 points
Hawthorn fruit, ripe cherries and licorice on the nose. Simple and fruity on the palate with a medium body and lightly chewy tannins. Simple, fruit-driven finish. Drink now