TintoNegro Limestone Malbec

TintoNegro Limestone Malbec is a high-altitude Mendoza Malbec blended with Cabernet Franc, bottled at 14% ABV in a standard 750ml format. Scoring 92 points from James Suckling, who highlighted its "very dense and chalky character with crushed stones and cherry flavors," this wine draws its identity directly from the limestone-rich soils of Los Chacayes in the Uco Valley.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14%  |  Origin: Los Chacayes, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina  |  Blend: 88% Malbec, 12% Cabernet Franc  |  Winery: TintoNegro

Production & Heritage

TintoNegro was founded by Alejandro Sejanovich and Jeff Mausbach, who spent nearly 15 years as colleagues at the renowned Bodega Catena Zapata before launching their own project. The Limestone bottling sources fruit from vineyards at roughly 4,000 feet elevation at the foot of the Andes, where soils range from rocky surface patches to shallow subsoils of round stones with pronounced limestone character. The Malbec is co-fermented with Cabernet Franc in concrete vats — a technique that intensifies the grape's natural floral aromatics — then matured for nine months in used, neutral, well-seasoned oak barrels that let terroir expression take priority over wood influence.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Bright red cherry leads the nose, followed by layers of cassis, violets, and subtle sweet herbs. A faint mineral edge emerges as the wine opens, signaling the limestone terroir beneath.

Taste: The entry is juicy and fruit-forward, with ripe raspberry and cherry flavors unfolding across the palate. At mid-palate, spice notes emerge alongside a firm, tense structure, while finely grained, chalky tannins provide the wine's defining textural signature. Integrated acidity keeps things balanced and lively throughout.

Finish: Medium to long, with fruit flavors projecting cleanly to the end and leaving a genuine sense of freshness. The chalky tannin impression lingers, giving the finish a dry, mineral-driven persistence.

How to Drink Limestone Malbec

Serve at 60–65°F; a brief 20-minute decant opens up the floral and mineral nuances. This wine is built for the table rather than the cocktail shaker, and it rewards food-friendly pairings. Try it alongside a classic Argentine asado — the smoky char complements the wine's chalky tannins. It works beautifully with braised short ribs, where the acidity cuts through rich, reduced sauces. Grilled lamb chops with chimichurri mirror both the herbaceous aromatics and the wine's spice-driven mid-palate.

Best For

• Weeknight dinners that call for a serious but approachable red
• Gifting a Malbec enthusiast something beyond the usual supermarket labels
• Argentine-themed dinner parties built around grilled meats
• Exploring the terroir-driven side of Mendoza beyond entry-level fruit bombs

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Limestone Malbec taste like? It delivers ripe red cherry and raspberry fruit with a distinctly chalky, mineral-driven tannin structure that sets it apart from softer, fruit-forward Malbecs. Spice and violet notes add complexity, while balanced acidity keeps the finish fresh.

How does Limestone Malbec compare to standard Mendoza Malbecs? Many entry-level Mendoza Malbecs emphasize plush, ripe dark fruit and overt oak sweetness, while TintoNegro's Limestone expression foregrounds mineral texture, chalky tannins, and restrained oak from its concrete-fermented, neutral-barrel approach. The high-altitude Los Chacayes sourcing and co-fermentation with Cabernet Franc further distinguish it with added floral lift and structural precision.

Is Limestone Malbec good for sipping on its own? Yes — its balanced acidity, moderate tannins, and fresh fruit profile make it approachable without food, though its structure and minerality truly shine at the dinner table.

Where is Limestone Malbec made? It is produced by TintoNegro from vineyards in Los Chacayes, a sub-region of the Uco Valley in Mendoza, Argentina, situated at approximately 4,000 feet elevation at the base of the Andes mountains.

What foods pair well with Limestone Malbec? Grilled beef and Argentine-style asado highlight the wine's smoky, chalky character. Braised lamb shanks complement its spice and herbal notes. Hard aged cheeses like Manchego echo the wine's mineral tannins. Roasted portobello mushrooms with thyme mirror its earthy undertones. Empanadas with a spiced beef filling match the wine's fruit intensity without overwhelming its structure.

What sizes does Limestone Malbec come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle.

Is Limestone Malbec worth the price? It positions as a mid-range, terroir-focused Malbec that delivers complexity well above typical entry-level Argentine reds. The 92-point James Suckling score and the pedigree of its founders — both former Catena Zapata veterans — reinforce strong value within its price tier.

Why Limestone Malbec?

What separates this wine from the crowded field of Mendoza Malbec is specificity of place. The limestone-laden soils of Los Chacayes at 4,000 feet produce a tannin profile — chalky, fine-grained, almost powdery — that you simply do not find in lower-elevation, alluvial-soil Malbecs. Co-fermentation with 12% Cabernet Franc in concrete vats is an uncommon production choice that amplifies floral and structural complexity without masking fruit. Founded by two winemakers who honed their craft over nearly 15 years at Bodega Catena Zapata, TintoNegro brings serious winemaking credentials to a bottle that prioritizes terroir transparency over heavy extraction or new oak.