2015 Via Revolucionaria ‘Esperando los Barbaros’ Malbec

Region: Maule < Chile
Grapes: Malbec
Vineyard/Cellar Stats: Organic, dry-farmed, single-vineyard; whole cluster press then fermented in an open amphora, with some carbonic happening; bottled unfined/unfiltered with zero added SO2; 11.5% ABV
Winemaker: Matias Michelini

Amphora, whole cluster, zero-zero (as in no added anything, including SO2) – this is extreme natural juice, by anyone’s standards, and completely revolutionary coming from Chile, where industrially-produced bulk wine dominates. It’s why we love Matias Michelini – he’s a bad boy, a maverick who has no time for convention or rules because he is too busy making experimental (but consistently clean and awesome) wines with his series of micro-projects showcasing unique terroirs in Argentina and Chile. We featured his carbonic JiJiJI Pinot/Malbec blend in March, and now a straight Malbec from Chile (and we generally do not love new world Malbec…) But this one is so incredibly, perhaps dangerously, delicious and drinkable (only 11.5% alcohol – practically a juice box!) And it’s squeaky clean, despite having not a drop of anything added or taken away. Nothing but bright, juicy, plummy, cherry, earthy, spicy goodness.