Kaiken by Montes Mai Malbec 2017

Category:
 
Red Wines
Sub-Category:  
 
Red Wines
Producer:
 
Kaiken by  Montes
Label Name:
 
Mai Malbec
Vintage:
 
2017
Country:
 
Argentina
Region:
 
Vistalba, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza
Volume:
 
750ml
ABV:
 
14.8%
Grape(s):
 
Malbec
Acidity:
 
3
Tannins:
 
4
Sweetness:
 
1
Body:
 
4
Length:
 
4
Aroma Intensity:
 
5
Best Temperature:
 
16-18°C

Awards/Ratings
Other vintages: James Suckling 96 (Mai 2019). Mai has earned high scores in multiple vintages and Kaiken has received industry recognition (Sommelier Wine Awards “New World Producer of the Year” 2024; Kaiken achieved B‑Corp certification)

Tasting Note
Dense garnet with ripe red and black fruits (strawberry, cherry, plum), tobacco, vanilla and nutty oak; intensely aromatic, velvety tannins and balanced acidity with a long, elegant finish.

Food Pairing
Western: grilled lamb, roasted beef, asado, empanadas, aged Manchego or Gouda. Asian: Korean BBQ (bulgogi, galbi), Chinese char siu or braised beef, Japanese teriyaki/robata-grilled beef, Sichuan-style beef dishes.

Production Method
Hand-harvested, bunch/berry selection; 7-day cold pre-fermentation maceration, fermentation with native yeasts in concrete (≈26°C), 20 days post-fermentation maceration; aged ~18 months in 500L French oak (50% new) and 12 months in bottle.

Vineyard Info
Kaiken (founded by Aurelio Montes in Mendoza c.2002) sources fruit from centenary Malbec vineyards planted ~1910 in Vistalba; the Mai is the estate’s first icon wine showcasing this terroir.