2022 Escala Humana - Tupongato Malbec Credo (750ml)

Escala Humana is a small husband-and-wife project in Tupungato, in Mendoza's Uco Valley, started by Ayelén and Germán Massera with a hands-off approach to winemaking. The couple crafts their wines at Matías Michelini's Passionate Winery, working with sustainably farmed, high-altitude vineyards that had been largely overlooked before renewed interest brought them back into the spotlight. Their Credo line is built around old parcels chosen for their history and distinct character, with this Malbec drawn from one such site.

The grapes come from El Facha, a small plot in El Peral, Tupungato, planted in 1944 on clay loam soil mixed with granite and calcareous rock. The old, low-yielding vines are hand harvested and fermented with native yeast, undergoing an extended maceration of around five weeks that includes a portion of whole clusters for added structure. After pressing, the wine matures for 24 months in well-seasoned French oak barrels, followed by another year resting in bottle before release.

This Malbec opens with a deep, layered bouquet of dark fruit, purple flowers, and building spice. The palate feels seamless and refined rather than heavy, staying taut and lifted even as concentration builds toward a long, spice-laced finish framed by fine, polished tannins. Its structure and restraint pair naturally with duck breast, braised short ribs, or aged hard cheese.