It's Not Too Late For A Big Holiday Wine

Big, bold red wines really make the holidays shine, and here's one of the shiniest. The 2021 Doña Paula Selección de Bodega Malbec is a varietal wine, made using grapes taken from the bush vines of the Aluvia Vineyard. This plot is in Gualtallary, in Mendoza's Uco Valley. The rocky soil of Aluvia is actually way up in the valley, at an elevation of more than 4,400 feet. 

The climate is cool in the daytime and cold at night, which is great for acidity. Aging took place in 50% new French oak barrels over 20 months. Alcohol is a hefty 15% abv and the retail price is $60.

This wine is inky dark, with no light getting through the glass. Black fruit provides the sweet part of the nose, while tar, earth, tobacco, and coffee cover the savory side. Blackberry and plum flavors are joined on the palate by earthy minerals and a brisk acidity. The tannins are firm and seem to eagerly await a pairing with some beef. It's a delicious wine, so if you're not pairing it with food, that’s okay. 

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