Malbec Seleccion La Consulta (2018) - El Hijo Prodigo

In the heart of the Uco Valley, the El Hijo Prodigo winery has a fascinating story tied to its Malbec Seleccion La Consulta. This region, famous for its altitude and ideal climate, was the setting for a chance meeting between a young winemaker and an elderly local grower. The grower, keeper of old traditions, revealed to the young man a secret handed down over generations: a unique pruning method that brought out the best in Malbec. That encounter gave rise to a collaboration that led to a wine celebrating not only the terroir of La Consulta but also the cultural heritage of a community devoted to winegrowing.

The appellation: IG La Consulta

IG La Consulta is a geographical indication in Argentina, renowned for its high-quality wines. This wine area, with its favourable climate and mineral-rich soils, has become a landmark for wine lovers, thanks to its ability to express the unique terroir of the region. La Consulta is known for a winemaking tradition rooted in a past rich in passion and dedication to viticulture.

What to eat with Malbec Seleccion La Consulta

Who makes it: El Hijo Prodigo

Founded in 2002, El Hijo Prodigo is a high-end wine estate at Mendoza, Argentina. Created by Alessandro Speri, a member of a well-known winegrowing family from Valpolicella, the winery stands out for its attention to quality and tradition, combining modern techniques with a deep respect for the land. A philosophy of painstaking work underpins wines that tell the story and culture of the region. The vineyards, at La Consulta in the Valle de Uco, benefit from a unique climate and rich soils, which give the wines a distinctive, complex personality. The winery specialises in making elegant wines, focusing on varieties such as Malbec, Tempranillo and Torrontés, each of which expresses the character of the Argentine terroir.

The vine of Malbec Seleccion La Consulta

Malbec

Malbec is a black grape variety of French origin, historically widespread in the Cahors area of south-west France, where it was known as Côt or Auxerrois. Today it has become the emblematic grape of Argentina, where it has found an ideal home in the high altitudes of the Andes, particularly in Mendoza, becoming one of the most recognisable reds in the world. It gives intense, deep and velvety wines, with firm but ripe tannins and an aromatic range that spans dark fruit and spices through to balsamic and floral notes.

Malbec Seleccion La Consulta: the Uco Valley area

Climate: Continental

Altitude: Low to mid altitude (200–500 m above sea level)

Soil: Alluvial / Morainic

Geographical setting: Valley

Profile of Malbec Seleccion La Consulta

Primary aromas: Ripe red fruit, Violet

Secondary aromas: Spices, Vanilla

Tertiary aromas: Leather, Tobacco

Tasting notes: A Malbec of great structure with notes of ripe red fruit and spice. Well-integrated tannins and a long finish.