Tikal Mendoza Natural Malbec Syrah 2020

Ernesto Catena’s certified biodynamic 2020 Tikal Natural (92 Points – James Suckling; 90 Points – Wine Enthusiast) from organic grapes is another masterful effort from this meticulous producer. A blend of Malbec (60%) and Syrah (40%) from a vineyard in Mendoza’s renowned Vista Flores region, the youthful 2020 Tikal Natural offers great purity, plush fruit flavors, and a superb texture – the calling cards and the very essence of authentic biodynamic winemaking. The 2020 Tikal Natural offers a deep, rich color and plenty of black raspberry and plum aromas and flavors, mingled with hints of coffee, dark chocolate, and spring violets. Loaded with flavor, yet smooth and immensely satisfying, the 2020 Tikal Natural may spoil your palate for anything less pure and natural. For optimal enjoyment we suggest affording this young, natural tasting wine at least 20-30 minutes of aeration to fully work its magic before consuming it at cool room temperature (60°-65° F). Anticipated maturity: 2023-2028.

A pure, natural tasting wine such as the 2020 Tikal Natural requires nothing more than a clean wine glass to be enjoyed. However, few young red wines offer as much pleasure and compatibility with food as Tikal’s 2020 Natural. Ernesto Catena’s biodynamic Tikal makes a splendid companion to grilled meats, vegetables, burgers, sliders, creamy pastas, and a host of bean and lentil dishes. One of our favorite companions to this wine is pork tenderloin with an herb encrusted black olive tapenade. However, in Argentina beef reigns supreme as the accompaniment of choice to the country’s exceptional red wines, which includes Tikal Natural, so lean cuts of beef such as filet mignon and sirloin will certainly make great companions to Tikal’s delightful Malbec/Syrah blend. Add sautéed Portabella mushrooms to a perfectly grilled steak and a more pleasing combination will be hard to find. Osso Bucco and Braised Short Ribs also earn high praise in the company of Tikal’s 2020 Natural. A thick lentil soup made with carrots and spicy ground sausage provides another winning accompaniment as does a tasty Moroccan Vegetable Ragout prepared with root vegetables, ras el hanout, and cherry tomatoes, but then nearly any food that one would pair with Malbec or Syrah will shine and give cause for rejoicing in the company of the 2020 Tikal Natural. Buen Provecho!

Tikal is the passion of Ernesto Catena, the eldest son of Nicolás Catena of Catena Zapata. Catena reigns as Argentina’s most revered name in wine, as Nicolás, Ernesto, and Ernesto’s sister Laura fashion many of Argentina’s finest wines. Considered experts with Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Bonarda, they fashion wines of both power and finesse and leave nothing to chance.

Ernesto grew up among the vineyards of Argentina’s mighty Mendoza, traveled the world, and lived in New York, Buenos Aires, London, Milan and elsewhere before returning to his beloved Mendoza with its majestic mountains and jubilant people. Tikal reflects Ernesto’s sensibilities and his desire for all that gives pleasure in life. As a skilled horseman, software developer, fashion designer, and book editor, he delights in offering wines that deliver the ultimate in pleasure. To say that “Tikal wines are hedonism in a glass” would not be an overstatement, as they all provide enormous pleasure and evoke a true sense of joy. With talented winemaker Luis Reginato, Tikal fashions five exceptional red wines: Natural (this month’s feature and a certified organic biodynamic blend of Malbec and Syrah) Patriota (Patriot), Corazón (Heart), Amorío (Love), and Júbilo (Rejoice). Tikal wines consistently receive 90+ points from the world’s most respected wine critics and publications.

Malbec is one of the original red wine grapes of Bordeaux, France (where it is called Cot or Pressac). While Malbec plays a purely supporting role today in Bordeaux, adding color and body to the region’s Merlot and Cabernet blends, it remains one of the six legal grape varieties permitted in red Bordeaux (along with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Carmenère). However, southeast of Bordeaux in the region of Cahors, Malbec still reigns supreme. It remains the chief grape of what historically has been called the “black wine” of Cahors.

Despite its deep French roots, Argentina has come to fore as the contemporary champion of Malbec, where the varietal reigns as the most important grape variety, both in terms of quality and quantity. The best Argentinean Malbecs and Malbec blends offer considerable flavor and body at a relatively young age, yet they remain age worthy wines capable of true distinction.

Syrah is one of the planet’s finest and most important red grape varieties. It has been grown for centuries in the Rhône Valley of France, where it is responsible entirely or in part for many of the greatest red wines of France, including Hermitage, Côte-Rôtie, and Châteauneuf-du-Pape specifically. The exact origin of the naturally full-flavored Syrah varietal remains somewhat of a mystery, though DNA analysis points to southern France rather the Middle East where it was once thought to originate.

In spite of the mystery surrounding Syrah, two points that everyone seems to agree upon is that Syrah rivals Cabernet Sauvignon in stature and Syrah has successfully adapted itself to other locales outside of France, with Argentina, Australia, California, Chile and South Africa all capable of fashioning distinctive world-class Syrah and Syrah blends.