2019 PerSe La Craie Gualtallary Mendoza

I fell in love with the 2019 La Craie as soon as I put my nose in the glass, and the wine stood out like a sore thumb in a flight with the rest of the wines from Per Se. The nose is subtle, elegant, harmonious snf ethereal despite the 14.5% alcohol, This comes from the south-facing slope, the cooler exposition in the southern hemisphere and is the co-fermentation of the field blend of Malbec and Cabernet Franc; depending on the vintage, it can contain some 20% of Cabernet Franc, but they don't even know for sure because the different vintages yield differently depending on the grape. It's perfumed and floral, with the freshness of a forest, notes of graphite and an ethereal quality, not only on the nose but also on the palate, where it's only medium-bodied and has ultra-fine, elegant, fine-grained tannins. It fermented and matured in barrel for 16 months. 1,440 bottles

The 2019 Per Se La Craie is a co-fermentation of Malbec and Cabernet Franc from Gualtallary, Uco Valley and came from a vineyard grown on calcareous slopes. Purple in hue. The aromatic profile presents subtle notes of country herbs, sweet spices, orange, ripe plum and floral aromas ranging from lavender to violet. Notably compact in the mouth with an expansive, damp chalk feel, the insistent tension lends depth. Juicy in its own way with a fruity backdrop and layer of herbs at the end, this is a harmonious red.

La Craie is a co-fermented blend of Malbec and 30% Cabernet Franc from a cool, southfacing site in the Monasterio sub-region that has rapidly established itself as one of the best reds in Argentina, which is quite something, given that the vines were planted in 2013. Racy, pure and elegant, with chiselled acidity, green herb undertones and vivid blueberry fruit, this has impressive minerality, haunting balance and very little oak. Like the best couples, the two varieties are very comfortable in each other’s presence. 2023-34