# Gran Medalla Malbec (2022)

- **Producer:** Bodega Trapiche
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Malbec
- **Region:** Mendoza, Argentina
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 14.5%
- **Average price:** €30
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 16–18 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** cherry, plum, violet, mint, liquorice, cloves, cedar

## About this wine

Bodega Trapiche is one of Argentina's most historic and globally recognized wine producers, located in Mendoza at the foot of the Andes. The Gran Medalla range was created to commemorate the winery's 125th anniversary, honoring a historic 1893 bronze medallion designed for Trapiche's centennial. Sourced from premier high-altitude vineyards in the Uco Valley, including the renowned Las Piedras site in Tunuyán, this wine reflects Trapiche's dedication to single-vineyard precision and mountain elevation terroir.

## Interesting facts

- The Gran Medalla name honors an 1893 bronze medallion created by Argentine artist Víctor Grippo for Trapiche's centennial.
- Vineyards are situated at high elevations between 1,000 and 1,300 meters above sea level in the Uco Valley.
- Fermentation is carried out in traditional small concrete vats using only indigenous yeasts.

## Food pairing

High-altitude Malbec offers robust tannins, vibrant natural acidity, and deep dark fruit intensity that demand rich, savory proteins. The wine's structural weight cuts effortlessly through the fat of grilled red meats, while its crisp acidity cleanses the palate between rich bites.

## Wine making process

Hand-harvested in small crates with rigorous cluster and berry selection. Fermentation takes place using indigenous yeasts in small concrete vats (piletas de cemento) with extended maceration lasting at least 25 days. Following natural malolactic fermentation, the wine undergoes aging for 18 months in 100% new French oak barrels, followed by an additional 6 to 12 months of bottle aging prior to release.