HJ Fabre Malbec Barrel Selection 2023 is a wine from Patagonia, Argentina, made from 30-year-old vines. Aged for 12 months in French oak barrels, it has an ABV of 14.5%.
The name Fabre may sound French, and for good reason, this Malbec is the creation of Bordeaux-born Hervé Fabre. Discovering Argentina in the 1990s, Hervé has since dedicated himself to championing old-vine Malbec, managing his estates with the precision of a top Bordeaux château. His impressive barrel cellars have earned six Decanter Trophies in just three years, including two for Barrel Selection wines.
This Malbec is refined and elegant, with just a subtle touch of oak, much like Hervé would do for a fine claret. Sourced from some of the world’s most southerly vineyards, this wine defies the typical image of a big, beefy Malbec. Instead, it offers freshness and acidity, a result of the cold night-time temperatures in Patagonia. It has also attained an IWC Silver award.
Deep crimson in colour, the wine has enticing aromas of liquorice. On the taste, it is medium to full-bodied, with blackcurrant fruit and a finish that comes across as dry, that’s party due to the low residual sugar, acidity and partly due to tannins. To fully appreciate this wine, it should be decanted for at least an hour before serving. Interestingly, by the next day, the finish becomes noticeably less dry, allowing a smoother and more balanced expression to appear.
At £15.99 from Laithwaites, this is a unique Malbec, perfect for those looking to explore something very different.
