Piattelli Premium Malbec is a bold but beautifully polished expression of high-altitude Argentine Malbec. Grown in the dramatic Cafayate Valley of Salta, it combines the richness you expect from the grape with the freshness that comes from vineyards almost 1,800 metres above sea level. Ripe blackberry, plum and black cherry dominate at first, followed by violet, spice and subtle touches of vanilla and chocolate. The palate is full-bodied and generous, but the tannins are smooth rather than aggressive, giving the wine a plush, rounded feel. What keeps everything balanced is the brightness underneath the fruit: cool mountain nights allow the grapes to retain acidity even after long, sunny days. The result is generous, warming and immediately satisfying, but with enough structure and freshness to make it much more than simply a big, fruity Malbec.
Piattelli Premium Malbec, Producer
Piattelli Vineyards is an Argentine wine producer with estates in two very different regions: Mendoza and Cafayate in Salta. The project was developed by the Malinski family with the intention of showcasing the contrast between these two important Argentine terroirs rather than creating one uniform house style.
The Cafayate winery opened in 2012 and is led by winemaker Alejandro Nesman, who specialises in working with the extraordinary conditions of north-west Argentina. The winery itself is built on three levels so that grapes, juice and wine can move largely by gravity rather than extensive mechanical pumping. Piattelli says this helps prevent premature breakage of the grapes and crushing of the seeds while reducing oxidation and unnecessary handling.
Piattelli’s overall winemaking is overseen by fourth-generation winemaker Valeria Antolin, while Alejandro leads the Salta vineyard and cellar team.
Piattelli Premium Malbec, Terroir & Winemaking
This bottling comes from Cafayate in Salta, one of the world’s most dramatic high-altitude wine regions. Piattelli’s Cafayate vineyards sit at around 1,795 metres, or 5,890 feet, above sea level. At this elevation, intense sunlight during the day is followed by significantly cooler nights, creating the large daily temperature swings that help grapes develop deep colour and flavour while retaining freshness.
Conditions are extremely dry, and the combination of altitude, intense sunlight and pure mountain water allows Malbec to develop particularly concentrated fruit. The estate describes its Cafayate Malbec as full-bodied and fruit-driven, with brightness and structure remaining an important part of the style.
Winemaking takes place in Piattelli’s gravity-flow Cafayate winery. Rather than moving the fruit aggressively through pumps, gravity is used to transfer it through the different stages of production. This gentler handling is designed to maximise flavour while avoiding harsh extraction from crushed seeds. The winery also makes extensive use of temperature-controlled fermentation vessels and oak maturation across its red-wine programme.
The exact barrel-ageing regime can change between releases, so I would add the specific oak details once you give me the vintage.
Piattelli Premium Malbec, Tasting Notes
Deep purple-red in colour with an immediately generous nose. Ripe blackberry, plum and black cherry are joined by violet and warm spice, creating a combination of dark fruit and floral perfume that is particularly characteristic of Argentine Malbec.
The palate is full-bodied and smooth, with blackberry and ripe plum supported by refined tannins. Subtle vanilla and chocolate add richness, while spice becomes increasingly apparent towards the finish. Despite the concentration of fruit, there is enough freshness to keep the wine vibrant rather than heavy.
The finish is persistent and warming, leaving ripe dark berries, plum and spice behind. It is generous enough for lovers of big reds, but the combination of soft tannins and high-altitude freshness makes it remarkably approachable.
Piattelli Premium Malbec, Food Pairing Suggestion: Argentinian Steak with Chimichurri and Crispy Garlic Potatoes
Did you know?
Cafayate is one of the highest major wine-growing regions in the world. Piattelli’s vineyards here sit at around 5,890 feet above sea level, considerably higher than its Mendoza sites.
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