San Juanito "Amanecer" Valle de Bernal Malbec 2020

Vin Chicago: 90 Points

(4/2026) Located 1,600 miles southeast of the Valle de Guadalupe, San Juanito sits in the Valle de Bernal at extreme elevations of 6,322 feet. It gets no more southerly of latitude than this for northern hemisphere viticulture, and that altitude is what keeps this wine so fresh. This 12% ABV, stainless steel aged Malbec will have you thinking "Old World" with its peppered herb nose, so spicy and earthy. Taut notes of smoked cranberry, dried blackberry, green tobacco, pink peppercorn, barnyard and juniper berries finish with light tannin and medium-high acidity which has a dark-tone but light-weight personality that might evince Mencia or Teroldego more than the wines of Mendoza. For the table!