Blackberry, black licorice, coffee bean, smoke, leather, chocolate, tar, menthol, blood orange and cedar.

This Mendoza Malbec is a deep violet color packed with aromas of leather, cedar, spice box and blackberry. Keep swirling and notes of licorice, coffee bean and chocolate waft from the glass. The Kaiken is velvety and very approachable with lots of mature red fruit and good fleshy tannins. The wine is a faithful exponent of Malbec’s potential in Argentina, with unique characteristics, blending both intensity and softness along with a long and persistent finish.

Kaiken is the first Argentine venture of Aurelio Montes, the respected winemaker who began his winemaking success in Chile and has now crossed the Andes into Argentina. The word Kaiken is a Mapuche Indian word for a Patagonian goose that, appropriately, ranges on both sides of the Andes. For now, the grapes are sourced from several top vineyards in the Tupungato area of Mendoza where Montes and his team meticulously supervise the vineyard activity. Plans are underway to build their own facility.

If Malbec is Argentina’s unofficial national grape, then beef is definitely its national food. Serving anything other than steak with an Argentine Malbec is close to sacrilege. The recipe for Strip Steaks with Chimichurri Sauce is so easy and so delicious. Serve with a roasted potato salad or any roast or mashed potato and your fortunate guests will be saying “Maravilloso.” For a cheese pairing, consider some chunks of Monterey Jack.

Expect more winemakers to migrate back and forth between Chile and Argentina.