Finca Flichman Tupungato

Finca Flichman Paisaje de Tupungato is a high-altitude red blend from Argentina's Valle de Uco, bottled at 14.5% ABV in a 750ml format. Produced only in exceptional vintages from grapes grown at 1,100 meters above sea level, this Malbec-led blend has earned a Gold medal from the Decanter World Wine Awards and a 90/100 score from the International Wine & Spirit Competition.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.5%  |  Origin: Tupungato, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina  |  Red Blend (Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot)  |  Winery: Finca Flichman (Est. 1910)

Production & Heritage

Finca Flichman was founded in 1910 and stands among Mendoza's oldest and most established wineries. Paisaje de Tupungato draws its fruit from vineyards planted at 1,100 meters in the Tupungato sub-region of the Valle de Uco, where wide diurnal temperature swings and intense sunlight concentrate flavor and preserve acidity. The blend of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot is aged for 12 months in a combination of French and American oak barrels, and the wine is only released in years the winery deems exceptional — a practice that underscores its position as a flagship cuvée within the Flichman range.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Ripe plums and black cherries lead, followed by layers of tobacco, clove, and saddle leather. Subtle smoky oak and earthy undertones add depth as the wine opens in the glass.

Taste: The entry is plush and generously fruited, with dark berries and cassis meeting the mid-palate. As it develops, dark chocolate, peppercorn, and licorice emerge alongside a savory, ashy complexity. Round tannins provide structure without harshness, and the Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot components add breadth to the Malbec core.

Finish: Medium-long and textured, settling with melted chocolate, dark licorice, and lingering smoky spice. A trace of grilled green pepper and soil adds a distinctive savory close.

How to Drink Paisaje de Tupungato

This wine shows best at cellar temperature (16–18°C) with 30 minutes of decanting to allow the oak and fruit to integrate fully. It drinks well on its own as a contemplative pour but truly shines alongside food. For a red wine sangria, the dark fruit and spice hold up well against citrus and brandy. In a Kalimotxo (red wine and cola), the wine's inherent chocolate and licorice notes amplify the drink's richness. A classic mulled wine preparation suits cooler months, where the clove and tobacco aromatics complement traditional warming spices.

Best For

• Argentine wine dinners featuring grilled meats
• Gifting a Malbec enthusiast looking beyond entry-level bottles
• Cellaring for two to five years from vintage to track its evolution
• Weekend dinner parties where a structured, oak-aged red anchors the table

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Paisaje de Tupungato taste like? It delivers ripe dark fruit — plum, black cherry, cassis — layered with dark chocolate, tobacco, peppercorn, and smoky oak. The tannins are round and the overall profile is plush yet structured.

How does Paisaje de Tupungato compare to Catena Malbec? Both source fruit from high-altitude Tupungato vineyards, but Paisaje de Tupungato is a multi-varietal blend (Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot) aged 12 months in oak, whereas Catena Malbec is a single-varietal wine. The Flichman blend tends toward darker, more savory complexity, while Catena Malbec leans into purer Malbec fruit expression.

Is Paisaje de Tupungato good for sipping on its own? Yes — its balanced tannins, layered aromatics, and 12 months of oak aging give it enough complexity to reward slow, attentive sipping without food.

Where is Paisaje de Tupungato made? It is produced by Finca Flichman, a winery founded in 1910 in Mendoza, Argentina. The grapes are grown in the Tupungato district of the Valle de Uco at 1,100 meters above sea level.

What foods pair well with Paisaje de Tupungato? Grilled Argentine-style ribeye or flank steak mirrors the wine's smoky depth. Slow-braised lamb shanks complement its tobacco and spice notes. Aged hard cheeses like Manchego or Pecorino echo its savory, earthy character. Dark chocolate desserts pick up on the wine's cocoa tones. Empanadas with spiced beef filling match its peppery, fruit-forward palate.

What sizes does Paisaje de Tupungato come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle.

Is Paisaje de Tupungato worth the price? It positions as a premium expression within Finca Flichman's portfolio — above everyday Malbecs but below ultra-premium single-vineyard bottlings. The selective vintage production, 12-month oak program, and consistent critical scores (90/100 IWSC, Gold at Decanter) place it firmly in the strong-value tier for high-altitude Argentine reds.

Why Paisaje de Tupungato?

What separates this wine from the crowded field of Argentine Malbec blends is its release discipline — Finca Flichman only bottles Paisaje de Tupungato in vintages that meet a high quality threshold. The 1,100-meter vineyard elevation in Tupungato delivers a concentration and aromatic intensity that lower-altitude sites in Mendoza rarely match. A Gold medal from the Decanter World Wine Awards, a 90-point score from the IWSC, and an 88-point rating from Wine Spectator confirm its consistency across multiple vintages. For drinkers who want more than a varietal Malbec — a structured, oak-aged blend with genuine complexity and provenance — this is one of the more compelling options from a winery with over a century of history in Mendoza.