Deep purple color; blackberry, plum, blueberry, raspberry, black fruits, bell pepper, coffee, lavender, minerality on the nose and palate.
Dry; substantial and slightly rough tannins (for a malbec) with some acidity (3.8 pH). The tannins and interplay of dark fruits deliver complexity, structure, and depth—this is not the soft, innocuous sip you get from run-of-the-mill Argentine malbecs. Full body. Fermented in stainless steel and 20% in oak. Finished 10 months in concrete vats. 15% ABV
“Artesano” is Spanish for “artisan.” Juan Pablo Murgia is the head winemaker. Cecilia Acosta is the vineyard manager. Bodega Argento is committed to organic vineyards and winemaking. The website notes: “The care of the water and the soil is a daily goal at Bodega Argento, so we reuse our alkaline solutions for washing vessels and then send it to a modern water treatment plant to be used in the irrigation of plantations. We are the only winery in the region that also has a sewage treatment plant reusing the resulting water for garden irrigation.”
“Argento” is Italian “silver.” The wine and label are a homage to the traditional silver and leather handcrafting of Argentina. Started in 2012, Bodega Argento is Argentina’s biggest producer of certified organic wines. Their commitment to sustainability is impressive: energy efficiency audits to measure energy-saving efforts; reuse of alkaline solutions for washing vessels, then treating that water to use in plant irrigation; advanced sewage treatment plant—the only in the region—to reuse water for irrigation.
The website also notes: “We have a comprehensive waste management program. The materials chosen to pack our wines are preferably recycled or low weight, such as ecological bottles. The remaining are classified and sent to be recycled or reused in the plant itself. Hazardous waste is treated according to current legislation in our country and organic waste is sent to the vineyard for composting.”
Bodega Argento Single Vineyard Finca Agrelo Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina 2019 has more complexity and structure than simpler Argentine malbecs. Enjoy the interplay of dark fruits that deliver depth and complexity at a very nice price point. More proof Argentine malbec is a game-changing red wine. Pair with lamb—rack of lamb cooked over open fire, grilled lamb chops. Beef—steaks grilled or roasted; beef empanadas; steak fajitas. Barbecue—slow-cooked brisket, pork ribs. Blue cheese burgers. Turkey, including wild turkey. Game—venison, boar, duck. Mushroom-based vegetarian dishes; roasted peppers, eggplant, squash; wild rice dishes. Cheese—blue cheese, aged cheddar, manchego, asiago, comté, gruyère, gouda, fontina, aged pecorino. $20-25
