Deep purple color; blackberry, plum, blueberry, oak, leather, smoke on the nose and palate.
Dry; rich, smooth, delicious. You get the expected courtly tannins and balancing acidity from top-shelf Argentine malbec. Medium body, exceptionally inviting mouthfeel. Plenty of oak, but not obnoxious thanks to the lush, savory fruit. If you like Argentine malbec, you will enjoy this. 14.5% ABV
Trapiche is one of the oldest brands in Argentina (established in 1883) and is Argentina’s largest exporter of premium wines, selling in more than 80 countries. The winery produces wine in all price ranges. Many Trapiche grapes go into grape concentrate, which helps make Argentina the leading grape concentrate producer in the world. This is their higher-end effort—Gran Medalla, a notch above their Medalla offerings. The Gran Medalla is a significant notch above Medalla, both will nicely complement tonight’s wine time.
The Argentine Bemberg family purchased the winery in 2010 from the Penaflor Group/Pulenta family, keeping ownership and control in Argentina. Trapiche has almost 3,000 vineyard acres in the foothills of the Andes Mountains and purchases additional fruit from more than 200 independent growers. It has a dramatically beautiful winery and tasting room.
In the U.S., Trapiche is distributed by The Wine Group LLC, based in Livermore, California. Other brands in The Wine Group portfolio include Chloe, Big House Wine Company, Cupcake, Franzia, Almaden, Corbett Canyon, Concannon, MD 20/20, and others. So this should have wide availability.
Trapiche Gran Medalla Malbec, Mendoza 2019 pretty much defines superior Argentine malbec. Excellent flavor and malbec graciousness. Exceptional balance. Bold for malbec, but deliciousness defines this impressive easy drinker. This is such a cordial easy drinker it can easily be enjoyed all by itself. Pair with beef; beef stew; roast lamb; stuffed bell peppers; poultry. Cheese—asiago, muenster, gouda, brie, gorgonzola, camembert, cheddar. $46