Andás 2015 Malbec Reserva Mendoza, Argentina

The Benegas family has winemaking in its blood. With wineries that date back to 1883, the Benegas family was the first to bring French grapevines to Argentina—an act that would help transform the country decades later into one of the most popular producers of New World wines. Today, Argentina’s wines delight wine lovers worldwide with their fruit forward flavors and heady aromas— a flavor profile that is in no small part thanks to the pioneering efforts of the Benegas family.

Finca Libertad, the family’s vineyard, is located in the foothills of the Andes Mountains and nestled along the bank of the Mendoz river in the Mendoza region of Argentina. This area, Lujan de Coyo, has become known as the land of Malbec since the variety flourished in Argentina in the late 20th century. The region’s high altitude offers its vineyards cool alpine winds at night to balance long hot and dry days in the sun. The push and pull of the extreme temperatures means a longer growing season and fully ripe grapes, leading to a complex, velvety wine.

Medium- to full-bodied, this 100% Malbec wine’s acids lend it a lithe backbone, making it graceful yet robust. The initial intense fruity flavors—plum, berry, and cherry—are complemented by an earthy finish, featuring hints of black pepper and chocolate. Aged in a mixture of new and used oak barrels, the wine is able to breathe as it matures, allowing its complex flavors to expand with a subtle wood influence.