Matias Riccitelli Hey Malbec 2024

Region and Vineyards

Hey Malbec 2024 comes from Mendoza, Argentina's leading wine province and the spiritual home of modern Malbec. Merchant and importer sources place the wine in Luján de Cuyo, with some references also noting fruit from high-altitude Mendoza sites. Luján de Cuyo sits in the Andean foothills, where warm days encourage generous dark-fruit ripeness and cool nights help preserve acidity, perfume and freshness.

Matias Riccitelli's estate is based in Las Compuertas, one of the higher and historically prized zones of Luján de Cuyo. The producer works old vineyards, including plantings dating from the early 20th century, and the altitude provides cold nights and strong diurnal range. This combination gives Malbec both richness and lift, explaining the wine's attractive balance of blackberry fruit, floral notes, spice and supple freshness.

Winemaking

Hey Malbec 2024 is made from Malbec, Argentina's signature red grape, in a style designed to be generous, polished and fruit-forward without feeling heavy. Several sources describe the wine as fermented slowly and spontaneously, with an emphasis on preserving fruit purity and varietal expression. The grapes are reported to be hand-picked, with careful selection before vinification, supporting the wine's clean, juicy and aromatic profile.

Ageing information varies by source, so it is best described with caution. Importer information for Hey Malbec notes that a large proportion of the wine matures in concrete tanks, with the remainder in used French oak barrels, while some retailers simply mention oak-barrel ageing. The oak influence is discreet, adding roundness and hints of vanilla, cocoa and spice while allowing black plum, blueberry, violet and pepper to remain at the centre.

Tasting Notes

• Color: Deep purple-red with youthful violet highlights, bright at the rim and visually expressive of ripe, generous Malbec fruit.
• Aroma: Blackberry, blueberry, black cherry, plum and ripe red fruit, layered with violets, lavender, black pepper, subtle eucalyptus, vanilla and dark chocolate.
• Palate: Smooth, juicy and medium to full-bodied, with ripe black-fruit concentration, soft mature tannins, fresh acidity, peppery spice and a rounded, opulent finish.

Did you know?

Matias Riccitelli founded his winery in 2009 after working harvests around the world and learning from his father, Jorge Riccitelli, one of Argentina's respected winemaking figures. His labels are playful, but the wines are serious in intent: expressive, contemporary and rooted in altitude. Hey Malbec is one of his most approachable calling cards, offering the energy of modern Mendoza in a friendly, highly drinkable style.

Wine Pairing Ideas

• Grilled ribeye steak: The wine's ripe blackberry fruit and supple tannins work beautifully with charred beef, while peppery notes echo the grill.
• Lamb kofta with cumin and coriander: Malbec's dark fruit softens the spice, and its fresh acidity lifts the richness of the lamb.
• Barbecued pork ribs: The wine's plum, chocolate and spice tones complement smoky glaze, while the tannins remain gentle enough for sweet-savory sauces.
• Stuffed portobello mushrooms: Earthy mushrooms, herbs and melted cheese bring out the wine's savoury, floral and dark-fruited dimensions.

History of Matías Riccitelli

The Riccitelli project was born in 2009, when Matías Riccitelli—son of legendary Argentine winemaker Jorge Riccitelli—decided to create his own path. After gaining experience in some of Argentina’s most prestigious wineries and working harvests abroad in Bordeaux and South Africa, Matías established his eponymous winery in Las Compuertas, one of Luján de Cuyo’s oldest and highest zones.

Driven by a desire to blend tradition with innovation, Matías quickly made a name for himself through minimal intervention winemaking, precise vineyard work, and a deep respect for historical sites and forgotten varieties. His father Jorge joined him on select projects—most notably Riccitelli & Father—symbolising the union of two generations and two philosophies.

From the outset, the estate has focused on small-lot, characterful wines that express both place and personality. Matías has helped revive old-vine Semillón, spotlight single-vineyard Malbecs, and explore cool-climate varietals like Cabernet Franc, Bastardo (Trousseau), and Torrontés in Patagonia and the Uco Valley.

Region and Vineyards

Riccitelli Wines operates from its base in Las Compuertas (Luján de Cuyo), a high-altitude region known for its old vines and distinctive alluvial soils. The estate cultivates low-yielding plots, including a Malbec vineyard planted in 1927, where organic and sustainable practices are standard.

In addition to Las Compuertas, Riccitelli sources fruit from select parcels in the Uco Valley—including Gualtallary, Altamira, Vista Flores, and Los Chacayes—at altitudes ranging from 1,000 to 1,400 metres. These zones offer cooler climates, rocky soils, and precise diurnal temperature variation, which allow for fresh, aromatic, age-worthy wines.

Further south in Río Negro (Patagonia), Riccitelli works with heritage vineyards planted in the 1960s and earlier, reviving rare grapes like Bastardo and Semillón. These old vines thrive in semi-desert conditions with sandy-loam soils, contributing freshness, low alcohol, and natural elegance to the wines.

Wine Range of Matías Riccitelli

The portfolio is structured around several key lines:

• Old Vines from Patagonia: Rare varietals (Bastardeau, Semillón, Pinot Noir) from 50–80-year-old vines in Río Negro.
• Vineyard Selection / Viñedo de Montaña: Focused on single-varietal expressions (Cabernet Franc, Malbec) from high-altitude Mendoza vineyards.
• The Apple Doesn’t Fall Far from the Tree: A playful yet serious range highlighting varietal typicity - Malbec, Bonarda, Torrontés - crafted with minimal intervention.
• Riccitelli & Father: A multi-generational collaboration, blending Malbec and Cabernet Franc in an elegant, age-worthy style.
• República del Malbec: A tribute to Argentina’s Malbec heritage, sourced from pre-phylloxera vines planted in 1908.
• Hey Malbec!: A vibrant, juicy take on Malbec, intended for early enjoyment and pure fruit expression.

Did you know?

Matías Riccitelli was one of the first winemakers in Mendoza to work extensively with Bastardo (Trousseau), a variety almost extinct in South America. His version from Patagonia has helped revive global interest in the grape, once considered too delicate for Argentine terroir.