Ver Sacrum, Los Chacayes, Valle de Uco (Mendoza, Argentina) Monastrell 2023 ($30, Brazos Wine Imports)

Founded in 2012 by two friends with a shared fascination for Rhône varieties, Ver Sacrum brings a fresh Argentine expression to the table. Monastrell — known in France as Mourvèdre and elsewhere as Mataro — is typically a blending grape, but in the past decade has earned solo acclaim in New World regions. Ver Sacrum ferments whole clusters in cement eggs using a semi-carbonic, minimalist approach that amplifies the grape’s natural character. The result is remarkably pale — nearly rosé in color — but full of personality: tart red fruit, red licorice, and a stony, wet-rock minerality. Light on its feet yet complex, it would shine alongside delicate dishes that appreciate a little zip. At around $30, it delivers elegance beyond its price point.
94 Vince Simmon