MAAL, Biutiful 2021

Up high along the eastern edge of the Andes Mountains is Vista Flores, a tiny appellation within Argentina's world-famous Mendoza region. Winemaker Alfredo Merlo and friend-come-winegrower Matias Fraga have been making MAAL wines since 2010. Standing for "Malbec As Alfredo Likes", at MAAL it's all about the grape that Argentina does better than anyone else. Biutiful 2021 is named for the fact MAAL believe Malbec is beautiful on its own. That's why Biutiful is fermented in concrete tanks (which do not impart any flavour into the wine) instead of oak barrels, so the wine you see in your glass is a true expression of the Malbec grape. It has an intense blackcurrant and dark fruit flavour along with gorgeous aromas of mocha and violet. Concentrated, fresh, and incredibly smooth.