Within the broader Mendoza wine region, several “subzones” have emerged as elite terroirs: The Uco Valley (Valle de Uco) is one of these. Located south-southwest of the city of Mendoza, the region boasts slightly higher altitudes (and thus cooler nighttime temperatures) than the Luján de Cuyo and Maipú regions further north. Soils are of “alluvial” (river-borne) origin, mixing sand, stones, and clay.

Bueyes is one of several labels produced by Familia Cánepa Martín, a collective of four winemakers based in the Luján de Cuyo region whose first wines were released in 2009. “La Jirafa y El Enano” (“the giraffe and the dwarf”) is a reference to the wine’s makers, Jesus Bianchetti (La Girafa) and Juampi Cánepa (El Enano).

Although the label may say “Rosé Wine,” this is a light magenta-hued red reminiscent of some of the ultra-light reds of France’s Jura region. It is sourced from Criolla Grande vines planted at 1,200 meters of elevation in Tupungato, Valle de Uco; after careful hand harvesting, the grapes are “cold soaked” for three days before fermentation begins. The finished wine aged briefly in tank before bottling.

Just a shade north of rosé in color, this is a softly contoured quaffer with some spice and dried flower notes to complement its red and “purple” fruit sensations: wild strawberry, black cherry, boysenberry, damp violets, underbrush, and wild herbs. The acidity is fresh but not sharp and the tannins are pillow soft, making this a good red for chilling and bridging the meat/fish divide at the dinner table.