How it tastesAromatic and expressive, with redcurrant and blueberry fruit lifted by rose petal and violet perfume. The palate is fresh and vibrant, half of it having spent around 12 months in French and American oak, and it closes on a lingering, spicy note — 100% Malbec.The producerBodegas Salentein was founded in 1996 when Dutch entrepreneur Mijndert Pon planted high-altitude vineyards in the Uco Valley and built its landmark cross-shaped, gravity-fed winery; it was named Winery of the Year in Tim Atkin MW's 2026 Argentina Report. This Malbec draws 60% of its fruit from Finca El Oasis at 1,050–1,100 metres and 40% from Finca La Pampa in San Pablo at 1,250 metres, on loamy sand over loess and calcium-encrusted stones. After a cold soak, fermentation with indigenous and selected yeasts ran for seven to ten days with pump-overs; half the wine then went to oak barrels (70% French, 30% American) and half completed malolactic in stainless steel, maturing for around 12 months under winemaker Jose Galante. Both estates use drip irrigation and keep native flora growing between the rows.Food and drinkingServe at 16–18°C with grilled steak, lamb chops or a chorizo and bean stew; it also handles hard cheeses well. Drinking well now and over the next three to five years; no need to decant, though 20 minutes in the glass opens the florals. Suitable for vegetarians and vegans.
