2022 Mendoza Malbec, Kaiken Ultra

• Style: High-altitude Malbec, structured and mineral-driven
• Taste: Blackberry, violet, liquorice with saline minerality and fine tannins
• Food: Grass-fed beef, grilled steak, game, aged cheese
• Occasion: Weeknight; Sunday lunch; special cellar keeper
• Serve: 16–18°C; decant 20 mins; enjoy through 2030

In the Glass — Tasting Notes

Purple fruit intensity and floral lift open the nose—violet, white flowers—then blackberry and liquorice emerge on the palate with a mineral snap that keeps everything fresh. Balanced tannins and real acidity invite another sip without weight. This is serious wine made with careful fruit selection and the region's natural brightness, where mountain cool meets southern sun.

The Winery — Kaiken

Kaiken came to Mendoza as an extension of Montes, the Chilean house that crossed the Andes to establish itself in Argentina's premium heartland. The winery has focused on Malbec when many overlooked the region's old vineyards, drawing 70% of production from their own holdings and 30% from vineyards they control. The 2022 vintage presented challenges—late frosts, mildew pressure, then a heat wave—but careful vineyard work and February rains ensured even ripening. Three separate parcels (Los Chacayes, Altamira, Gualtallary) sit between 1,200 and 1,600 metres on stony, calcium-rich soils that concentrate flavour. Hand-harvesting, cool maceration, seven days of wild-yeast fermentation with three weeks of skin contact built the texture. Oak maturation in mixed barrels for a year added depth without dominating the fruit. Vegan and vegetarian, made with sustainable practice, sealed with a quality Stelvin closure.

At Your Table — Food Pairing & Serving

This is the wine for grass-fed beef, grilled steak, game, and aged hard cheeses—it has the structure to breathe and freshness to not overpower. Perfect for a Sunday lunch centrepiece or weeknight occasion when you want something that doesn't pretend to be more than it is. Serve at 16–18°C; decant for 20 minutes to let the mineral snap settle. Worth cellaring through 2030 for those building a serious collection. Explore our broader Malbec selections, discover more from Uco Valley, and browse our full Argentina range to find your next favourite.