Enrique Foster Malbec

Enrique Foster Malbec is a 100% Malbec wine from Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina, bottled at approximately 13.5% ABV in a standard 750ml format. Produced at what is recognized as the first purpose-built winery in the world dedicated exclusively to Malbec using gravity-flow vinification, this wine earned 88 points from Wine Enthusiast for its 2021 vintage.

Quick Facts: ABV: 13.5%  |  Origin: Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina  |  100% Malbec  |  Distillery: Bodega Enrique Foster

Production & Heritage

Bodega Enrique Foster, also known as Bodega Foster Lorca, sits in the prestigious Luján de Cuyo subregion of Mendoza at roughly 3,000 feet elevation on the eastern flank of the Andes. The winery's cellars were constructed by excavating a 6,000-cubic-meter crater, then burying the facility under earth and pumice stone — a design that maintains constant cellar temperatures without air conditioning. Gravity-flow winemaking moves the juice gently through each stage without mechanical pumps, preserving fruit purity and soft tannin structure. The vineyards feature ungrafted, pre-phylloxera vines, a rarity that connects directly to some of Argentina's oldest rootstock and contributes depth and terroir expression that grafted vines seldom replicate.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with a floral burst of violets and fresh cherry, followed by subtle spice and a gentle undercurrent of toasted oak. A faint herbal note weaves through as the wine breathes.

Taste: On entry, juicy red and black fruit — plum, blackberry, and dark cherry — coat the palate with a round, medium-bodied texture. The mid-palate introduces hints of peppercorn, smoke, and a trace of dried herbs before yielding to soft, fine-grained tannins. A light vanilla undertone emerges from restrained oak contact, with only a small percentage of the wine seeing barrel time.

Finish: The finish is smooth and moderate in length, leaving behind lingering notes of ripe plum, a whisper of black pepper, and a slightly salty mineral quality. Tannins resolve cleanly, making each sip easy to follow with the next.

How to Drink Enrique Foster Malbec

This Malbec drinks well at a slight chill — around 60–65°F — to preserve its bright fruit character. Pouring it into a large-bowled glass and letting it open for 15–20 minutes rewards with fuller aromatics. It also works confidently in wine-forward cocktails: a Kalimotxo (equal parts red wine and cola over ice) highlights its fruit-driven profile in a casual format; a Red Wine Spritzer with sparkling water and a citrus twist makes a refreshing warm-weather serve; and a New York Sour — where the wine floats atop a whiskey sour — benefits from the Malbec's vivid color and berry richness.

Best For

• Weeknight dinner pairing with grilled meats or pasta
• Introducing a friend to Argentine Malbec for the first time
• Bringing a reliable bottle to a backyard asado or barbecue gathering
• Building an affordable South American wine collection

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Enrique Foster Malbec taste like? It delivers round, juicy plum and black cherry flavors with a floral violet note, light peppercorn spice, and smooth tannins that finish clean and approachable.

How does Enrique Foster Malbec compare to Catena Malbec? Both hail from Mendoza's high-altitude vineyards, but Enrique Foster distinguishes itself through gravity-flow production at a winery built exclusively for Malbec, while Catena draws from multiple estate vineyards across several elevations. The Foster tends toward a softer, more immediately fruit-forward style, whereas Catena often shows more structured tannins and deeper oak influence.

Is Enrique Foster Malbec good for beginners? Yes — its smooth tannins, juicy fruit character, and lack of aggressive oak make it one of the more approachable Argentine Malbecs available, well suited to drinkers exploring the varietal for the first time.

Where is Enrique Foster Malbec made? It is produced at Bodega Enrique Foster in the Luján de Cuyo subregion of Mendoza, Argentina, at approximately 3,000 feet elevation on the eastern slopes of the Andes Mountains.

What foods pair well with Enrique Foster Malbec? Grilled skirt steak or flank steak mirrors the wine's smoky undertones; empanadas with spiced beef complement its peppery notes; hard aged cheeses like Manchego match its moderate tannin grip; roasted red pepper dishes echo its fruit-forward palate; and dark chocolate with 60–70% cacao picks up the wine's subtle vanilla and berry finish.

What sizes does Enrique Foster Malbec come in? The standard release is available in a 750ml bottle, which is the most widely distributed format.

Is Enrique Foster Malbec worth the price? It positions as an entry-level to mid-range Mendoza Malbec, and its 88-point Wine Enthusiast rating for the 2021 vintage suggests solid quality relative to its approachable price tier — a credible everyday red that consistently over-delivers against similarly priced competitors.

Why Enrique Foster Malbec?

The gravity-flow winemaking process is the headline here — it is a technique typically associated with far more expensive producers, yet Bodega Enrique Foster applies it at an accessible price point across every bottle. The ungrafted, pre-phylloxera vines offer a direct biological link to Mendoza's oldest plantings, giving the wine a rootstock integrity that most modern Argentine Malbecs simply cannot claim. An 88-point score from Wine Enthusiast confirms that the result in the glass matches the ambition behind the winery's engineering. For anyone seeking a Malbec that carries genuine production pedigree without a premium markup, this bottle stands apart.