Born and raised in Bordeaux, France, where wines made with multiple grapes earn top acclaim, Hervé Fabre has brought his love of blending to his current home in Argentina—and we think you’ll love his efforts. Ripe and deeply fruited, the latest release of his signature HJ Fabre Assemblage is a perfect example of his meticulous work.

“All my life, I’ve been searching for an ideal wine region to plant in. And when I discovered Mendoza, I had no doubts about the enormous potential of this terroir,” says Hervé.

He and wife Diane came to the area in the early 1990s, when Malbec was just beginning to gain popularity. Quickly realizing the grape’s possibilities, they bought as many old plantings as they could—some dating back around a century.

Hervé soon began producing some seriously delicious takes on the variety, and it wasn’t long before he gained popularity, too. He stacked up medals from multiple competitions, Master of Wine Tim Atkin deemed him a “Winemaking Legend” and he took home the award for Red Winemaker of the Year at the 2018 International Wine Challenge.

After mastering the grape on its own, however, he thought it was about time to get back to blending and decided to start with Bordeaux’s classic varieties: rich Cabernet Sauvignon and peppery, red-fruited Cab Franc.

The result is a wine that’s deeply flavored and supremely balanced, with a plush body carrying notes of plum and fresh berries accented by pepper and spice. It’s very food-friendly, especially with bold, char-grilled steak (an Argentine favorite) and roasted veggies.