Brother and sister Constanza and Hernan Pimentel came to Winemakers Night this past Wednesday to present four of their boutique production Caelum wines. Something the audience was most curious about is why they chose the name Caelum. Constanza responded that Caelum is the name of a constellation that represents a chisel. The idea behind their choice was that their boutique winery was also an artisanal style winery, made with personal and authentic attention. It also has a double meaning of heaven – and exactly where they are hoping their wines will transport you.
Our first wine of the night was their Rose. Made by Italian winemaker Guiseppe Franceschini, the European tendency was clear from the first glance. This was not your usual Argentinean style bright pink rosado. A light copper/onion skin color, this Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon blend had only three hours of maceration in contact with the skins which produced a more French style rose with a delicate nose of dusty rose petals and strawberries, and a clean, crisp and dry mouth. A perfect aperitif to get this balmy summer night off to the right start!
As Constanza and Hernan discussed the different production techniques we moved on to their unoaked Chardonnay – a pale gold with silver tones, this was a fresh wine with lots of fruit in the nose and a flavorful and expressive mouth with a clean finish and good acidity. Constanza said that unoaked Chardonnay had a bit of a fight ahead of it because consumers had become used to heavy, buttery oaked Chardonnays (which often put people off), and the battle was changing preconceptions that the varietal can also be fresh, light and fragrant. This unoaked Caelum certainly won over the audience over.
The next wine was their unoaked Malbec — a good chance to get to see the true characteristics of a naked Malbec. The wine had lots of plum, red fruit and slightly meaty characteristics and an easy mouth, but what struck the most was the complex mineral notes. Representative of their very rocky terroir in Lujan, this is typical of the region.
Then we moved onto their Malbec Reserva 2009, with attractive floral notes of lavender and violet and bursting with red fruit this was an attractive Malbec but elegant and balanced in the mouth. Aged 15 months in French oak, the barrels gave it some more spicy and mellow characteristics of clove and anis as well as vanilla pods.
The sibling duo showed us some great wines, of very different characters, and managed to dispel some myths of the wine world while helping us all to look towards the stars after enjoying four lovely glasses of wine!
Caelum wines can be bought in The Vines and the winery is open to tourism Monday to Saturdays 10am to 4pm www.bodegacaelum.com.ar Winemaker’s Night is held at The Vines of Mendoza’s Tasting Room every Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m.
Amanda Barnes is a British journalist living in Mendoza and delighting in meeting new winemakers and new wines every week at The Vines.
