There is a sense of purity in the 2018 Q Malbec that seems common to the whole portfolio here-wines that show precision, are clean and show no excess in any direction: ripeness, extraction or oak. It comes from Altamira and Chacayes, where 2018 was very balanced, and this is an exercise of blending over 100 components, as they ferment by soil even within the same vineyard. They fermented with different amounts of full clusters depending on the plot, perhaps 30% on average, and they fermented in concrete and with only 30% of the wine matured in used barriques. It's floral, expressive and perfumed, with a medium-bodied palate where the tannins are fine and there's some grip. The wine is serious but easy to drink. They want the wine to have a similar style to the top range: freshness, purity, cleanliness and texture that says it's from the Valle de Uco. 300,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in December 2018.

Bright, deep ruby-red. Aromas of cassis, blackberry, spices, herbs and bitter chocolate convey a slightly reductive character. Pure, precise dark fruit and spice flavors boast strong energy from the calcium carbonate soil, giving this medium-bodied wine a light touch. Finishes classically dry, with a firm spine of dusty tannins and echoing persistence. Sebastián Zuccardi avoids carbonic maceration when he works with whole clusters; he crushes the fruit by foot if he has the time, or destems and then adds back a portion of the stems. Zuccardi noted that because Malbec is sensitive to oxygen, he makes less use of micro-oxygenation than he does with Cabernet Sauvignon. He also avoids racking Malbec in order to retain its tannic structure. With Cabernet Sauvignon, on the other hand, he seeks "to round the tannic structure." (fermented in concrete with a small percentage of whole clusters, then 30% aged in used 500-liter oak barrels)

Hints of citrus rind accent the dark plum and maraschino cherry flavors. Dried green herbal notes show on the tannic finish. Drink now. 30,000 cases made, 15,000 cases imported.