# Viñalba 'Reserve' Malbec-Touriga Nacional (2022)

- **Producer:** Viñalba (Bodegas Fabre)
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Malbec 80%, Touriga Nacional 20%
- **Region:** Mendoza, Argentina
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 14.5%
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 16–18 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** violet, rose, red cherry, plum, blackcurrant, mulberry, blackberry, dried herbs, spice, earth

## About this wine

The Viñalba 'Reserve' Malbec-Touriga Nacional is a unique Argentine red wine, born from a collaboration between French winemaker Hervé Joyaux Fabre and Portuguese winemaker Rui Reguinga. It features a blend of 80% Malbec and 20% Touriga Nacional, sourced from the high-altitude Uco Valley in Mendoza, Argentina. Hervé Fabre, a pioneer of single-varietal Malbec in the region, established Viñalba with a philosophy of minimal intervention to express the purity of the fruit and terroir. The 2022 vintage is characterized by its freshness and purity, reflecting the unique high-altitude vineyard site.

## Interesting facts

- A unique Argentine-Portuguese blend.
- Hervé Fabre was a pioneer of single-varietal Malbec in Argentina.
- Grapes are grown at 1,450 meters altitude.
- Features a collaboration between French and Portuguese winemaking expertise.

## Food pairing

The wine's medium-plus tannins and body are well-suited to complement the protein and fat in red meats, while its fruit-forward character can stand up to richer sauces. Herbal notes in the wine can echo herbs used in cooking, creating harmonious pairings.

## Wine making process

The winemaking process begins with hand-harvested grapes, meticulously sorted to select only the best. A cold maceration period of 4-5 days is followed by fermentation in temperature-controlled tanks with selected yeasts, featuring three to four pump-overs daily. Total maceration lasts 20-25 days, with malolactic fermentation occurring in stainless steel tanks. Subsequently, 60% of the wine is aged for 12 months in French oak barrels, contributing to its structure and complexity.