After decades of “Argentina IS Malbec!”, the other varieties there are getting their time in the sun. The high-altitude vineyards of Mendoza allow many other expressions. This is Garnacha/Grenache from the Los Chacayes IG, a subregion of the more famous Uco Valley and an area known for stony, alluvial soils and plenty of sunshine. Garnacha from his area is light, fresh and resembles some cooler parts of the Rhone valley and Northeast Italy rather than its warmer cousins in Spain’s interior. A combination of concrete egg and used barrels, plus several days of semi-carbonic maceration at the start of winemaking, make this a complete surprise for someone expecting a big Malbec-like wine; it couldn’t be farther from it. Excellent with a chill or as-is!