Vineyards and winemaking
The fruit is sourced from selected vineyards in Luján de Cuyo, where Casarena works across the districts of Perdriel and Agrelo. Situated at around 900 metres above sea level, these vineyards benefit from abundant sunshine and pronounced differences between daytime and night-time temperatures, helping Malbec achieve ripe fruit while retaining freshness.
Made entirely from Malbec, the grapes are carefully destemmed before undergoing a four-day cold maceration. Fermentation takes place at 26°C, with gentle pump-overs used to extract colour, flavour and supple tannins. The wine then matures for three months in third-use French oak barrels, lending subtle savoury complexity without obscuring its generous fruit.
Tasting notes
Appearance
Bright ruby-purple with violet reflections and a youthful, clear rim.
Nose
Ripe plum and black cherry lead the nose, followed by violet, blackberry and a twist of black pepper. With air, restrained notes of cedar and sweet spice emerge from the brief period in French oak.
Palate
Medium-bodied and immediately inviting, with succulent plum and dark berry fruit supported by fresh acidity. The tannins are smooth and finely textured, giving shape without making the wine feel heavy. Gentle oak seasoning brings a touch of spice before a bright finish of red plum, violet and black pepper.
Food pairing
The wine’s ripe fruit and supple tannins make it a natural partner for chargrilled bavette steak with chimichurri, rosemary and garlic lamb chops, or a traditional steak and ale pie. For a meat-free pairing, try roasted aubergine with Puy lentils and smoked paprika, where the earthy, gently smoky flavours complement the Malbec’s dark fruit and spice.
Background story
Casarena is based in a historic winery built in 1937 on Brandsen 505 in Perdriel—the address behind the wine’s name. The estate specialises in exploring the differing expressions of Luján de Cuyo, working with vineyards whose altitude, orientation and soil composition vary considerably across a relatively compact area.
Rather than treating Mendoza as a single, uniform terroir, Casarena seeks to show how these individual sites influence each variety. The 505 Malbec provides an approachable introduction to that philosophy, combining expressive fruit, measured oak and the freshness characteristic of the estate’s wines.
