Valle Azul, Río Negro, Patagonia, Argentina
95% Malbec • 5% Petit Verdot
15% ABV
12 months French oak

Tasting Notes

The 2022 Especial is deep, concentrated and richly textured, with a wonderful combination of dark fruit, savory complexity and Patagonian freshness.

The nose shows blackberry, black cherry, cassis, ripe plum and violet, followed by intriguing notes of licorice, juniper, roasted pepper, sun-dried tomato, bay leaf and basil. French oak adds subtle layers of vanilla, sweet spice and dark chocolate.

On the palate, it's full-bodied and concentrated, but the naturally high acidity of the Río Negro site keeps it from becoming heavy. The tannins are firm yet polished, with a chalky texture and a long, vibrant finish.

Wine Enthusiast describes the 2022 as smooth and concentrated, with strawberry, vanilla bean, cinnamon and bright raspberry.

Decanter's 93-point review highlights the wine's dense black fruit, roasted peppers, sun-dried tomato, bay leaf, basil, licorice and juniper, with rounded tannins.

⭐ Critic Scores

This one has a very nice score lineup:

• 🏆 93 Points – Decanter
• 92 Points – James Suckling

🍇 Interesting Facts

This is Patagonia, not Mendoza

This is probably the single most important fact to emphasize.

Ribera del Cuarzo is located in Valle Azul, Río Negro, in Patagonia. Rather than relying on high elevation like many famous Argentine wines, this region gets its character from its high latitude, cool nights and constant Patagonian winds.

That climate helps the grapes retain remarkable natural acidity, even when the fruit reaches impressive concentration.

A tiny, special vineyard

Especial comes exclusively from the five-hectare Araucana Vineyard.

The site has calcareous soils with sandy loam of aeolian and volcanic origin, along with cool nights and strong winds. The difficult growing conditions naturally stress the vines, resulting in grapes with high concentration and pronounced acidity.

Five hectares. Patagonia. Limestone. Wind. Old vines.

The vines are about 22 years old

The 2022 Especial comes from vines approximately 22 years old. The combination of mature vines and the challenging climate contributes to the wine's concentration.

95% Malbec + 5% Petit Verdot

Unlike the Clásico, which is primarily Malbec with Merlot, Especial uses a small amount of Petit Verdot to add structure, color and spice.

12 months in French oak

The wine spends approximately 12 months in 225-liter French oak barrels, with roughly 30% new oak, followed by extended bottle aging before release.

The oak is noticeable, but it's not simply an "oak bomb." The wine's fruit, acidity and mineral character remain front and center.

Made by a winemaker with a serious pedigree

The Ribera del Cuarzo project was founded by Felipe José Menéndez Argüelles, who began his career working under legendary Argentine winemaker Nicolás Catena before pursuing his own project in Patagonia.

That's a fantastic little detail for a wine description.

🍷 Especial vs. Clásico

Since you're carrying or considering both, I'd actually use their differences to help customers understand why Especial costs more.

The interesting part: Clásico is actually the older-vine wine, but Especial is the more concentrated, powerful single-vineyard expression.

So I would not sell Especial simply as "better." I'd sell it as richer, more structured and more cellar-worthy.

🍽️ Food Pairings

This wine wants big flavors.

I'd pair it with:

• 🥩 Ribeye
• 🥩 Argentine asado
• 🍖 Short ribs
• 🐑 Grilled lamb
• 🥩 Beef tenderloin
• 🐖 Slow-roasted pork
• 🍄 Truffle or wild mushroom dishes
• 🥘 Beef stew
• 🧀 Aged Manchego
• 🧀 Parmigiano-Reggiano
• 🥓 Charcuterie

My favorite:

Argentine grilled steak + chimichurri.

The wine's acidity and herbal notes should work beautifully with the richness of the meat and the herbs in the chimichurri.

Why We Love It

This is a wine-geek Malbec.

It has the richness and concentration that people expect from Argentina, but the Patagonian climate gives it a completely different dimension: acidity, minerality, savory herbs and freshness.

And the vineyard story is excellent:

Five hectares + calcareous soils + constant Patagonian winds + mature vines + French oak + 93 Decanter.

It's also a really nice bottle for someone who says:

"I love Malbec, but I want something more sophisticated."

"Patagonian Malbec with Bordeaux-like structure and Rhône-like savory complexity."

Serving Temperature: 60–64°F
Decant: 1–2 hours
Drink Window: 2026–2032
Style: Full-bodied • Concentrated • Mineral • Savory • Structured • Age-worthy