# Vasco Viejo Malbec (2025)

- **Producer:** Bodegas López
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Malbec
- **Region:** Mendoza, Argentina
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 13.5%
- **Average price:** €12
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 15–16 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** raspberry, plum, blackberry, vanilla

## About this wine

Vasco Viejo Malbec is produced by Bodegas López, a fifth-generation family winery established in 1898 in Mendoza, Argentina. The brand name pays tribute to El Vasquito, the founding legacy of José Gregorio López Rivas who emigrated from Spain to Argentina in 1886. Sourced from traditional vineyards in Luján de Cuyo and Maipú, this cuvée embodies the classic Estilo López philosophy, focusing on balance, drinkability, and regional tradition.

## Interesting facts

- Vasco Viejo pays homage to founder José Gregorio López Rivas, who was affectionately known as El Vasquito.
- Bodegas López ages its red wines in traditional French oak vats holding up to 25,000 liters.
- The winery was established in 1898 after José López Rivas fled the European phylloxera crisis.

## Food pairing

This medium-bodied Malbec features soft tannins and vibrant acidity that balance savory meats, tomato-based sauces, and seasoned sausages without dominating the palate.

## Wine making process

Hand-harvested grapes undergo classic maceration and fermentation in stainless steel tanks under controlled temperatures kept below 25°C. Following fermentation, racking, and clarification, the wine ages for three months in large French oak vats (toneles) ranging from 5,000 to 25,000 liters. This traditional, minimal oak approach softens tannins while retaining primary fruit vitality.