Luján de Cuyo is one of the most prestigious sub-zones of Mendoza, named for a village situated on the banks of Mendoza River. Its vineyards are in the foothills of the Andes Mountains which, as in other Argentine wine zones, have a “rain shadow” effect on the vineyards arrayed beneath them, blocking storms from the west to create an arid, almost desert-like environment.

The Bonfanti family goes back three generations in the village of Perdriel, where they acquired their first Malbec vineyard in 1915. They now farm two small vineyards—one in Perdriel, in Luján de Cuyo, and one in Barrancas, in the Maipú subzone. The estate is run by Sebastian Bonfanti (winemaker), his brother, Alejandro (sales), and their father, Roberto (vineyard manager).

This is 100% Malbec from vines planted in 1915 in the sandy, loamy soils of Perdriel, at roughly 1,000 meters of elevation. Grapes are fully de-stemmed and fermented in stainless steel tanks for about 10 days, after which the finished wine rests in tank for about three months before bottling.

Deep ruby in the glass, this is a departure from the inky, often chocolatey styles of Malbec that dominate the consumer consciousness these days. Aromas of black and purple fruits commingle with notes of violet, juniper, crushed stones, and graphite carry over to the juicy, medium-bodied palate. The notorious Malbec tannins have a very fine grain here.