Familia Schroeder Alpataco Malbec 2023 vs Mullineux, Granite Syrah, Swartland, South Africa 2022

Familia Schroeder Alpataco Malbec 2023

Alpataco Malbec is a vibrant expression of Malbec from Patagonia, planted in gravelly soils that benefit from warm days and cool nights in Argentina's southernmost wine region. The vineyards in San Patricio del Chañar produce low-yield grapes that give the wine purity, concentration, and elegant fruit expression. Hand-harvested and vinified with minimal intervention, the wine is unoaked to preserve its fresh, fruity character, resulting in a smooth, medium-bodied Malbec with blackcurrant, black cherry, plum, and violet notes. Why You'll Love It This is Patagonian Malbec—a cooler-climate expression that offers elegance and freshness alongside the rich fruit character Malbec is known for. Familia Schroeder's gravity-flow winery in Neuquén combines modern winemaking with minimal intervention philosophy, allowing the unique Patagonian terroir to shine. The unoaked style preserves pure fruit expression, making this an exceptionally drinkable and food-friendly wine at an outstanding price. Meet the Producer Familia Schroeder's winery, located in San Patricio del Chañar, Neuquén, Patagonia, combines modern gravity-flow winemaking with architecture that blends into the vineyard landscape. Established in tribute to a 75-million-year-old dinosaur fossil found during construction, the winery emphasizes minimal intervention, quality fruit, and terroir expression in every bottle. Production Grapes are hand-harvested at optimal ripeness from low-yielding vines in gravelly soils. Vinified with minimal intervention to preserve freshness and aromatics, the wine undergoes unoaked fermentation and careful handling to achieve a velvety mouthfeel and expressive fruit character without oak influence. Tasting Notes Deep ruby in colour, the nose reveals blackcurrant, black cherry, plum, and violet aromas. The palate is smooth and medium-bodied, with a fresh, fruity profile and a velvety texture that balances richness and elegance with refreshing acidity. Perfect Pairings Pairs beautifully