Medalla is the Trapiche label first made in 1983 to mark the winery's hundredth anniversary. The label carries a bronze medallion, in a design by the Argentine artist Victor Grippo.
The time it spends in wood sets it apart. Medalla Malbec is aged for 18 months in new French oak barrels, then rests a further six months in bottle before it is released. That long oak ageing gives toast, coconut and vanilla over the fruit.
In the glass it is an intense purple with violet tones. The nose is red berries, plum, cherry and a touch of raisin, and the palate is sweet on entry, with soft but firm tannins and a persistent finish.
The winery suggests 16 to 18 degrees, and opening the bottle about 15 minutes before pouring. It has the weight for grilled meats and hearty dishes, such as a rib eye off the barbecue or a slow cooked beef stew.