Chakana, Paraje Altamira, “Ayni”

Today’s wine really spoke to me. And this is what it said: Winds of change are blowing in South America. Whereas Argentine Malbec has always been a reliable choice for those who crave dark, rich, and polished red wines, some would argue that the category is plagued by “sameness”—that the wines are undoubtedly well-made, but stylized past the point of expressing their place of origin. That’s why today’s Malbec from Chakana, called “Ayni,” was such a revelation: It felt like a wine of place, and for those who’ve seen Mendoza firsthand, what an incredible place that is!What Chakana has done with this brilliant (and widely acclaimed) 2015 is direct the conversation toward where the wine comes from and not who made it. As many of you are aware, there’s lots of big-name winemaking talent (especially from Bordeaux) in the broader Mendoza region, but the big name on this label is “Paraje Altamira,” a famous high-elevation locale in the Uco Valley that has historically produced the most celebra