Aduentus Classic 2019

Aduentus (ad-do-en-tus) is Latin for arrival – in this case the arrival of a special Argentine red. It's from Antigal, a fine bodega based in a winery first built in 1897, and totally refurbished in 2000. It's all gravity-fed, so the winemaking is particularly gentle. For the Classic, Antigal uses grapes from its high-altitude vineyards, including those in the prized Gualtallary and La Arboleda regions, which benefit from bright, sunny days and cold nights. So the grapes ripen slowly, retaining freshness and aroma. This is a superb, Bordeaux-style red, using Argentina's hero Malbec grape with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged 14 months in French and American oak barrels, it has rich, dense fruit marrying with oak spice. A great steak red.