2021 Per Se "Inseparable" Malbec Gualtallary

This is the third vintage of Inseparable, Per Se's entry-level wine from the Monasterio zone in Gualtallary, and it comes from the lower and flatter areas of the winery's 6.5-hectare property. The Inseparable sector has just over two hectares, and it's the oldest—planted in 2010 on sandy soils with a subsoil rich in calcium carbonate. Frosts reduced this year’s production by half, from 10,000 bottles to 5,000, but the quality and the fresh, fruity character are maintained in a fresh and juicy malbec with crisp acidity and tense tannins. The season's warmth is evident in some aromas that are sweeter than usual, although it never loses its tension at any time.

Autumnal mountain Malbec. What the heck do I mean? This wine captures the feeling for me of standing in the sun in the autumn. How when the wind is calm the solar radiation can make you feel just as warm in the summer but when the wind picks up, you suddenly want a puffy jacket. There is also a quality of light; brighter yet more diffuse, coming at you from a different angle, making us refocus and take in the same surroundings from a new perspective. I love this time of year. I love how this wine captures a similar feeling. The aromatics intense yet restrained. That charming Malbec fruit is present in with perfect balance of sweet and tart, that basket of mixed berries perfectly ripe but with pop, ideal for tarts! There is ease and depth to the fruit and surrounding it all is a mix of earthy mountain herbs, with their high and low tones. All of that with an extra aromatic push. It is a delight to smell. After a 30 minute decant, the wine rewards us with an incredibly supple texture, it is silky but solid. The wine has a polish to it, yet it does not feel polished. This is the combination of great terroir, great viticulture and great winemaking. This is a Malbec, that is obviously Malbec but unlike other Malbecs. Those charming layers of fruit are present on the palate, dark cherries, with a wild mix of pluots and black berries. There is delicate earthiness, and those wildflowers and herbs add additional complexity. What this wine has none of is oak. This is a pure expression of Malbec and Gualtallary. This elegantly structured Malbec is a magician at the table, the silkiness and soft tannins make this a great substitute for Pinot Noir (especially for those looking for a bigger wine) and the body of this wine is substantial enough for red meat (the aromatics have me imagining a holiday roast). Whatever is at the table this is a wine that will elevate the experience.