PrimaZona

A two-time gold medal-winning wine from a pioneer of Argentinian winemaking. Harvested from 100-year-old vines planted by the family that originated winemaking in Argentina, this bold blend took home gold medalsat both the 2016 Harvest Challenge and the 2017 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

The Mendoza region of Argentina, nestled against the eastern foothills of the Andes mountain range, has become the epicenter of the country’s premium wine production over the past two decades. Mendoza’s high altitudes provide precious warmth and sunlight while the stony soils coax the grapevines into producing ripe, structured, and flavorful fruit. In its ancestral home in France, the Malbec grape has often played only a subtle, small part in the great wines of Bordeaux. In the PrimaZona, however, the Malbec takes center stage.

The meaty red fruit and berry flavors of the Malbec grape mingle with soft notes of cherry and a hefty, tannic structure. Following this initial fruitiness, however, subtle hints of cloves and smoky tobacco begin to surface, giving the wine a mild spiciness perfect for pairing with strong meat-based dishes. Aged in French oak barrels, the wine gains length and complexity along with subtle spice and structure. Full bodied and rich, this complex blend packs a punch while retaining its smooth texture with silky tannins.

And you'll want to make sure you don't swap this one out of your next box: out of the hundreds of wines submitted, this blend was one of the few awarded a gold medal at the 2016 Harvest Challenge.