# Hey Malbec! (2021)

- **Producer:** Matías Riccitelli
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** 100% Malbec
- **Region:** Mendoza, Argentina
- **Style:** Natural
- **Alcohol:** 14.0%
- **Average price:** €16
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 16–18 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** blackberry, black plum, black cherry, bramble, violet, aniseed, green herbs, olives, white pepper

## About this wine

Hey Malbec! by Matías Riccitelli is a 2021 red wine from Mendoza, Argentina, made from 100% Malbec. It represents a deliberate effort to create a fresher, more expressive style of Argentine Malbec, diverging from traditional heavier profiles. The wine is a blend from Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley, regions known for their distinct terroirs. Matías Riccitelli, following in his father's winemaking footsteps, founded his winery with a focus on minimal intervention and showcasing the purity of fruit. The distinctive comic book-style label underscores the wine's modern and accessible identity. The 2021 vintage experienced cooler, wetter conditions, potentially contributing to the wine's vibrant character.

## Interesting facts

- The label features a comic book-style design, reflecting the wine's modern and approachable ethos.
- Grapes are sourced from vineyards between 950 and 1,400 meters above sea level.
- The wine is bottled without stabilization or filtration to preserve its natural character.
- Matías Riccitelli emphasizes agro-ecological vineyard management.

## Food pairing

The wine's medium-plus body and supple tannins make it a versatile partner for protein-rich dishes. Its bright acidity cuts through richer flavors, while the fruit-forward character complements grilled and roasted meats. Herbal notes in the wine can echo seasonings used in dishes.

## Wine making process

The 2021 'Hey Malbec!' is produced using a combination of traditional and modern techniques. Grapes are hand-harvested and transported in small cases. Twenty percent of the Malbec is fermented as whole clusters using carbonic maceration, while the remaining eighty percent is destemmed. Fermentation takes place with indigenous yeasts in small concrete vats at controlled temperatures. Gentle extraction methods are employed to maintain fruit purity. Following fermentation, the wine matures for about a year in the same concrete vessels, with a portion also aged in used French oak barrels. The wine is bottled without stabilization or filtration.