Kaiken Ultra Malbec

Kaiken Ultra Malbec is a premium Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina, in a 750ml bottle. Made by Kaiken, the Argentine project of Chilean winemaker Aurelio Montes, Ultra is the step above the estate's classic range, drawing on high-altitude vineyards and about a year in French oak for a deeper, more structured expression of Argentina's signature grape.

Quick Facts: Origin: Mendoza, Argentina | Varietal: Malbec | Style: Dry Red Wine, French Oak Aged | Producer: Kaiken (Montes family)

Production & Heritage

Kaiken was founded in 2002 when Aurelio Montes, co-founder of Chile's Vina Montes, crossed the Andes to make wine in Mendoza. The name comes from the caiquen, a wild goose that migrates freely between Chile and Argentina over the mountains, a fitting symbol for a Chilean family making Argentine wine. The Ultra Malbec is sourced from the estate's best blocks in Agrelo in Lujan de Cuyo and from Vista Flores in the Uco Valley, where vineyards sit at roughly 3,000 to 3,500 feet above sea level. The altitude brings intense sunlight and cold nights, which build thick skins, deep color and fresh acidity. The grapes are hand picked, fermented in stainless steel with gentle extraction, and the wine is aged for around twelve months in French oak barrels, a portion of them new, before bottling. The result is a Malbec with more depth and polish than entry-level examples while retaining the variety's plush fruit.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Blackberry, black plum and violets, with mocha, sweet spice, a hint of tobacco and graphite from the high-altitude fruit.

Taste: Full-bodied and velvety, with layers of ripe dark fruit, dark chocolate and vanilla, supported by fine-grained tannins and fresh acidity that keep it lifted. The oak is well integrated.

Finish: Long and smooth, with lingering blackberry, cocoa and a touch of toasty spice.

How to Drink Kaiken Ultra Malbec

Serve Kaiken Ultra Malbec at around 62 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit in a large red wine glass, and decant for thirty minutes to let the oak and fruit knit together. It is made for the grill: pair it with Argentine-style grilled skirt steak with chimichurri, lamb chops or smoked brisket. It also pairs well with empanadas, aged hard cheeses and dark chocolate desserts, and it will hold for several years in the cellar.

Best For

• Steak nights and backyard barbecues
• Malbec fans ready to step up from entry-level bottles
• Gifting a polished Argentine red at a reasonable price
• Dinner parties where a bold, crowd-pleasing red is needed

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Kaiken Ultra Malbec taste like? It tastes of blackberry, black plum and violets with mocha, vanilla and sweet spice, in a full-bodied, velvety style with fine tannins, fresh acidity and a long, chocolate-tinged finish.

How does Kaiken Ultra Malbec compare to Kaiken Malbec? The classic Kaiken Malbec is younger, fruitier and sees less oak. Ultra comes from select high-altitude vineyards and spends about a year in French oak, giving it more concentration, structure and complexity for a modest step up in price.

Is Kaiken Ultra Malbec good for aging? Yes. Its tannin, acidity and oak integration allow it to improve for five to eight years from the vintage, though it drinks well on release after a short decant.

Where is Kaiken Ultra Malbec made? It is produced by Kaiken in Mendoza, Argentina, from vineyards in Agrelo (Lujan de Cuyo) and Vista Flores (Uco Valley) at high elevation in the Andean foothills.

What foods pair well with Kaiken Ultra Malbec? Grilled steak with chimichurri, lamb, brisket, short ribs, empanadas, hard aged cheeses and dark chocolate all pair naturally with its rich fruit and firm structure.

What sizes does Kaiken Ultra Malbec come in? This listing is the standard 750ml bottle.

Is Kaiken Ultra Malbec worth the price? It consistently delivers the depth and polish of Malbecs costing considerably more, which has made it one of the best-value premium reds from Argentina.

Why Kaiken Ultra Malbec?

Kaiken Ultra Malbec combines the experience of the Montes family with the best of Mendoza's high-altitude vineyards, and the result is a Malbec that is generous without being simple. Twelve months in French oak add chocolate and spice to the violet-scented dark fruit, fine tannins give it structure, and mountain acidity keeps it fresh through a long finish. It is the ideal wine for a grilled steak, a confident gift and a bottle that can rest in the cellar for a few years. For the price, few Argentine reds offer as much.