Xige Estate N28 Malbec

Rated 87 by Wine Advocate

 

Xige’s 2021 No. 28 Malbec has a relatively deep purple appearance sporting ripe, sweet-scented Malbec fruit featuring black plum, damson, black cherry and blueberry with a slight floral element (violet). This is a varietally, fruit forward expression that is matured in a mixture of foudre (5,000-liter French oak) and smaller-format French oak (300-liter) with no new oak in evidence. On the palate, this is medium to full-bodied with somewhat gripping tannins, some supporting acidity and slightly heady 14% alcohol and showing moderate concentration. Although the palate could have greater finesse—and it’s worth noting that the No. 28 wines are made in relatively high volume by Xige - this wine’s strongest asset is its Malbec typicity, underscoring again how suitable a variety this is becoming for Ningxia. With its moderate length and somewhat drying finish, this wine is drinking well now.