Medium purple color; plum, black cherry, blackberry, raspberry, tomato, chocolate on the nose and palate.
Dry; firm tannins, especially for an Argentine malbec; balancing acidity (3.60 pH). There are no rough edges, but this is an assertive, robust malbec, not a velvety easy drinker. Medium-plus body. Somewhat rustic without being hayseed hillbilly libation. Middle-of-the-week pour, second bottle of the night as the party gets rolling. Not the lead actor in a special night event, but you don’t expect that in a malbec at this price point. Enjoy it for what it is. 13.5% ABV
The wine is 100% malbec. Macerated on the skins for 15 days, then fermented for eight days in temperature-controlled vessels. Malolactic fermentation. Aged in small concrete and stainless steel vessels. No oak influence noticed.
In 1870, Santiago Graffigna founded one of Argentina’s oldest wineries. Santiago was just 12 years old when the Italian boy journeyed to Argentina to help his uncle to plant the first wine vines in the San Juan Valley. Santiago eventually made world-class wines. Graffigna is the third-oldest wine producer in Argentina.
The winery notes: “To the fruit of this work he put his own name, Graffigna, as a symbol of his pride and worthy representative of his quality. Today, 150 years after embarking on his adventure, we continue to honor his vision through complex wines that transmit the true expression of each variety, with deep aromas, flavors and great character.”
Graffigna Genuine Collection Malbec, Uco Valley, Argentina 2021 is a serviceable, fruit-froward everyday drinker. A bit rustic, but that can be appealing with the right food pairing or as the second bottle in a midweek soirée/blowout/party. Graffigna makes a “Glorious Selection Malbec” that costs several dollars more and is worth it. This effort works from what it is. Pair with pork ribs; barbecue beef, pork, or chicken; roast chicken; beef empanadas; spicy foods; lamb; comfort foods—pizza, meatloaf, mac and cheese, burgers and sliders. Cheese—asiago, muenster, gouda, brie, gorgonzola, camembert, cheddar. $11