Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1011938
{ SOMMjournal.com } 61 The Medalla Standard Medalla's inaugural vintage blended Argen- tina's flagship Malbec variety with Caber- net Sauvignon and Merlot, but the Medalla label now encompasses single-varietal wines grown at high elevations and aged in new French oak. The line, which currently includes Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon, aims to showcase the country's best fruit. Lasley, who plans to feature both Medalla wines and other Trapiche bottlings at El Gaucho this fall, currently sells the Medalla Cabernet Sauvignon by the glass, which is no small commitment. "It's very clear to me that a well-chosen and afford - able glass of wine can spark a lifetime love affair with all things El Gaucho," she notes. And although it maintains a sense of place, the Medalla Cabernet Sauvignon bridges a gap between Old World and New World flavor profiles with a richness that doesn't overwhelm or diminish complexity: Ac - cording to Lasley, that's why she immedi- ately snapped up the wine after tasting it for the first time. That balance between full fruit, sophis- ticated oak, and lifting acidity distinguishes the character of both Medalla wines, crafted by Trapiche Chief Winemaker Daniel Pi. It all starts at the source of the fruit: vineyards located in Mendoza's finest regions. Both the Medalla Malbec and the Cabernet Sauvignon hail from Maipú and Luján de Cuyo, which have proven over time their ability to craft concentrated and structured reds. Both releases also prove to be fantas - tic food-pairing wines. "The acid, tannins, and body are all complementary to the mouthwatering char on our steaks," Lasley notes. Of the Medalla Cabernet Sauvi - gnon in particular, she says she "thought guests would love the deep, rich flavor and elegant tannins—plus, the touch of earth and smoke serves as a little nod to [the restaurant's] cigar room." In the 35 years since their launch, Trapiche's Medalla wines have become a fixture within the international wine industry as they triumphantly represent the quality and value of Argentine reds. As Trapiche progresses through its next century of winemaking, it's abundantly clear its commitment to excellence is stronger than ever. El Gaucho features the Trapiche Medalla Cabernet Sauvignon by the glass alongside other selections from the line, including the Malbec. El Gaucho's lamb with the Trapiche Medalla Cabernet Sauvignon.