Michel Rolland Yacochuya Malbec is a powerful and concentrated red wine from the high-altitude vineyards of Cafayate in Argentina’s Salta region. Crafted by world-renowned French winemaker Michel Rolland, this Malbec showcases bold flavours of ripe black fruit, spice, and a touch of oak, offering a deeply expressive yet balanced profile that reflects both the intensity of the terroir and Rolland’s signature winemaking style.
Michel Rolland is one of the most influential winemakers in the world, known for consulting with top wineries across the globe and shaping the modern wine industry. Rolland first became involved in Argentine winemaking in the 1980s and has since been instrumental in elevating the reputation of Malbec on the international stage. In 1998, he partnered with the Etchart family, owners of the Yacochuya estate, to create wines that reflect the unique high-altitude terroir of Cafayate. With Yacochuya, Rolland focuses on crafting robust, opulent wines that showcase the full potential of Malbec, blending his Bordeaux expertise with Argentine tradition. Under Rolland’s guidance, Yacochuya produces limited quantities of high-end wines with a focus on quality, precision, and expression of place.
The Cafayate Valley, located in the Salta province of northern Argentina, is one of the highest wine-growing regions in the world, with vineyards planted at elevations between 1,700 and 2,200 meters (5,500 to 7,200 feet) above sea level. This extreme altitude contributes to the unique characteristics of Yacochuya Malbec. The intense sunlight, coupled with cooler nighttime temperatures, allows the grapes to ripen fully while retaining natural acidity and freshness. The soils are a mix of sandy and rocky compositions, which provide excellent drainage and promote deep-rooted vines. These conditions, combined with the low rainfall of the region, result in small, concentrated berries that produce wines with remarkable intensity and depth. The 2014 vintage was aged in new French oak barrels, adding further complexity and a polished texture to the wine.
Michel Rolland Yacochuya Malbec 2016 Tasting Notes:
The aromas are complex and intense, offering layers of wild berries, cherries, blackcurrant, tobacco, raisins, smoke, and leather. On the palate, the wine is harmonious and well-balanced, revealing flavours of dark berries, plum, liquorice, and tobacco, supported by velvety tannins and a long, fruit-driven finish. Its flavour profile is bold and expressive, featuring blackberry, black cherry, and plum alongside nuances of violets, dark chocolate, and sweet spices such as cinnamon and vanilla. Full-bodied with a rich texture and impressive concentration, this is a wine of depth, structure, and lasting presence.
Food pairing suggestion: Argentinian beef stew.
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