Medium purple color; black cherry, blackberry, red plum, raspberry, oak, vanilla, chocolate, spice on the nose and palate.
Dry (1.58 g/L RS); mild tannins and excellent balancing acidity (3.49 pH; 5.85 g/L TA). Medium body. A classic soft Mendoza malbec. Easygoing, inoffensive drinker. Certainly will please sippers who want their red wine benign and well-behaved. Not complex, straightforward with plush mouthfeel. 13.9% ABV.
Grapes sourced from estate vineyards in Russell, Agrelo, and Perdriel areas of Mendoza planted in 1965-2005 at around 3,000 feet above sea level in sandy loam soils. Grapes hand-harvested. Juice underwent four days of prefermentation maceration, followed by fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel. Half the wine spent eight months in French oak barrels, remainder in concrete.
The late Ricardo Santos was the first Argentine maker to bring the varietal to the U.S. with Norton-Medoza Malbec 1972. He sold Norton in 1989 and purchased his vineyard in Russell, Maipu, Mendoza. A new winery was completed in 2005. Wine is made in both stainless steel and concrete tanks. Today’s winemaker is Ricardo’s son, Patricio Santos, and his son, Pedro Santos, is the CEO/marketing director. The winery stresses their operation remains a family enterprise.
Ricardo Santos Bodega y Viñedos Tercos Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina 2022 is amiable, soft-tannin, red fruit classic expression of Mendoza malbec. No palate challenges, depth, or complexity, but easy drinking, tasty quaffer. Easy choice when you want an affordable, no-drama dram. $14-15
Pairing—Grilled steak; flank, sirloin, ribeye; barbecue ribs; beef empanadas; grilled lamb with mint and rosemary. Beef bourguignon, slow-cooked stews; venison wellington; tagines with prunes. Grilled mushrooms; roasted red peppers, stuffed peppers; grilled eggplant; roastd beetroot. Cheese—Blue cheese is classic; roquefort, stilton, gorgonzola. Aged cheddar, aged gouda, manchego, asiago; Monterey jack, provolone, comté, gruyère.
