2022 Aventura Valle de Canota Malbec, Kaiken Aventura

• Style: Dry, full-bodied Malbec from Las Heras
• Taste: Rich, intense, dry and full-bodied
• Food: Carne asada, beef empanadas, barbecued sirloin
• Occasion: Weeknight barbecue; any good night at home
• Serve: Open an hour ahead, pour with the main course

In the Glass — Tasting Notes

The 2022 Aventura Valle de Canota Malbec from Kaiken Aventura is a dry, full-bodied red from Las Heras that sets itself apart by being rich and intense without losing its shape. Power arrives first, and it comes with a sense of control rather than heaviness. At 14.5% alcohol the wine carries real weight, yet the glass never feels blunt or hot. Each sip stays focused, and the texture never tips into syrupy sweetness. Everything about it reads as deliberate, from the first pour to the last sip. That balance makes it easy to recommend to anyone who has been let down by overcooked reds. If you want to compare, browse the rest of our Malbec range. Place it beside other bottles from Mendoza and the differences in style show quickly. It is a useful reference point.

The Winery — Kaiken

Kaiken takes its name from the kaikenes, wild geese from Patagonia that make the flight over the mountains between Chile and Argentina. The name is a nod to that crossing, and Montes, the Chilean winery that moved over the Andes to settle in Mendoza, followed a similar path. Today the house works largely from its own ground, with its vineyards supplying 70% of production and the rest coming from vineyards it controls. Much of its effort goes into Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon, and the older vineyards across Mendoza, where many produce excellent fruit, are central to that work. For the drinker, sourcing this closely means the wine starts with fruit the house has chosen itself. Curious about the house? The rest of the Kaiken range is the place to look.

At Your Table — Food Pairing & Serving

Carne asada is the natural partner here, its charred edges and smoky heat matching the wine's grip. Beef empanadas suit a relaxed evening, and a barbecued sirloin gives it a hearty partner. Serve it at the table with the main course, and open the bottle a little ahead so it can breathe. It suits the friend who wants a red with strong presence, the host cooking for a crowd, or anyone who likes a bottle that earns its place on any good night. Weeknight meals on the grill are where it truly shines. Because of its build, it sits in our Full Bodied Red Wine selections, though it never feels cumbersome with food. The country's wider range is worth a browse at our Argentina range. For more of this style, our Red Wine selection is where to look next. A critic score of 91 is reason enough to put it in your basket tonight.