El Porvenir ‘Laborum’ Single Vineyard Malbec 2019 Cafayate, Salta, Argentina 75cl

Bodegas El Porvenir de Cafayate is a family winery in the far north of Argentina, working the high-altitude vineyards of the Calchaqui Valley around Cafayate, home to some of the highest vines on earth. Laborum is its single-vineyard range, each wine drawn from one identified site, and this Malbec is part of that focused collection.

This is pure Malbec grown at considerable elevation, where intense mountain sunlight and cold nights build colour and concentration while holding on to freshness and perfume. The single-vineyard sourcing gives the wine a clear identity, and a measured use of French and American oak frames rather than covers the fruit.

The 2019 vintage in Salta gave ripe, expressive reds, and this Malbec shows that generosity alongside the balance that altitude brings, a combination that has become the calling card of the region.

Expect sweet blueberry and darker berry fruit lifted by violet, with gentle spice and vanilla from the barrel. It is balanced and pure on the palate, the tannins ripe and the finish long and fresh, showing precision as much as power. It is drinking well now and has a few years in hand.

Rated 92 points, it partners grilled steak, roast lamb or a rich mushroom dish, and takes well to a short spell in the decanter. If you enjoy Malbec with real precision as well as ripeness, this high-altitude single-vineyard bottling shows the style at its best. Serve it at a cool room temperature in a generous glass, and expect it to keep well for several more years if you would rather wait.