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La Rural: Mendoza’s Most Historical Bodega

Friday, August 19th, 2011

 

August is a month full of history for Mendoza. First of all, August 17 is el dia de San Martin, or the day that Argentina commemorates the death of the most important leader in Argentina’s emancipation from Spain. You can’t find a town in Argentina that doesn’t have a San Martin street. In actuality, he’s not only a national hero in Argentine, but in Chile and Peru as well. General San Martin holds particular importance in Mendoza and the Cuyo region where he was governor, trained his famous “Army of the Andes,” and planned a devisive disinformation campaign to confuse the Spaniards by sending messages on what passageway his army would take through the Andes, allowing the message to fall into enemy hands and then going the opposite way as the message indicated. Not only does Mendoza have several streets named after him (including one of the most important), there’s also Parque de General San Martin (General San Martin Park) and Cerro de la Gloria (Glory Hill dedicated to his army).

Additionally, last weekend marked the beginning of elections and August 16 is University Day for UNCuyo, celebrating its 72nd anniversary. In light of these many historic events and celebrations, I’d like to spotlight one of Mendoza’s most historic wineries: La Rural.

This 100-year-old colonial style bodega is located in Coquimbito, one of Argentina’s oldest viticultural zones. In addition to producing great Argentine wines, La Rural also houses a museum of antique tools and other objects that were used to make wine in Argentina during the nineteenth century. As a result, the winery’s tour is like taking a trip back in time where you can appreciate the labor and sacrifice that went into wine production a century ago.

Today, the winery has a stainless steel tank capacity of ten million liters and uses modern equipment to ferment and preserve its fine red and white wines. Using grapes from its four Mendoza vineyards, La Rural is much more than an old-fashioned curiosity – this thriving bodega exports wines throughout the world and has helped promote increasing demand for Argentine wine among international consumers.

 Address: Montecaseros 2625 – Coquimbito
Phone: (261) 497-2013
Email: museo(at)bodegalarural.com.ar
Website: www.larural.com
Hours: Monday to Saturday from 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm every 30 mins. / Sunday from 10am to 1pm every 1 hour
Reservations Required: Only for groups over 20

Brands: Rutini, San Felipe, Trumpeter, Pequeña Vasija
Recommended Wines: Rutini label varietals, especially the Rutini Malbec.

Carolyn is a newcomer to Mendoza and the wine industry and will be sharing her experiences as she learns more about both. A recent college graduate from UNC-Chapel Hill, she also teaches English at a local university.

 

 

Posted in Behind the bottle, Experiences, Life in Mendoza, Mendoza Bodegas, Photos, Uncategorized, Vines Events | No Comments »


Listen to the Conference Call: “Argentine Wines in the EuropeanMarket”

Friday, August 12th, 2011

 


“Argentine Wine Sales and Trends in the European Market“ conference call was hosted on August 10th, 2011 by Michael Evans and Pablo Giménez Riili from The Vines of Mendoza, along with Eduardo Pulenta of renowned Bodega Pulenta Estate, Mauricio Llaver of Revista Punto a Punto and Andrew Maidment, PR manager for Wines of Argentina in Europe.

From left to right: (bottom) Mauricio Llaver, Eduardo Pulenta | (top) Michael Evans, Pablo Gimenez Riili

Mauricio Llaver is a Mendoza-based journalist specialized in Economics and Wine Industry. He has a 20-years career and has been Fellow of the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) and the American Society of Newspaper Editors (ASNE). He is bussines-magazine Punto a Punto’s publisher and has radio columns and programs mainly devoted to wine. He also runs his web site
www.mauriciollaver.com and has covered Vinexpo’s last two editions (2009/11).

Eduardo Pulenta is the export manager for Bodega Pulenta Estate. With a winemaking history dating back to 1914,  Eduardo and Hugo Pulenta decided to carry on the family tradition with a focus on high quality wines with passion and dedication and in 2001 founded Pulenta Estate.  They now export around the world and have one of the best reputation and highest quality wines found in Mendoza.

Andrew Maidment runs the European division of Wines of Argentina – the trade body that manages the promotion of Argentine wines in the exports markets. His primary role is to develop marketing strategies for ‘Brand Argentina’ tailored specifically to each country, with the aim of raising the awareness of Argentina’s wines amongst both wine trade professionals and the end consumer.

Activities include: developing large scale ‘on’ and ‘off-trade’ promotions, wine tasting events (trade and consumer), obtaining positive and sustained press presence, advertising, product placement and the organization and planning of trips to Argentina for key individuals or businesses.

Wines of Argentina currently has approximately 250 member wineries.

 







Posted in Experiences, Mendoza Bodegas, Podcasts, Vines Events | No Comments »


What´s Going On in Mendoza (August 7-13)

Sunday, August 7th, 2011

Here are a few interesting events coming up you might want to check out!

Sunday, August 7

Dance-Tango

Milonga with Ana y Luis. Go to watch or participate.

Time: 21 a 1.30

Place: Teatro Bar San Juan (San Juan 456 casi Morón, Ciudad, Mendoza)

Music-El dúo. (The Duo) International and national covers.

Time: 22.30

Place: Ambar Living Bar (Sarmiento y 25 de Mayo, Ciudad., Mendoza)

Art-Exposition at the Museum of Modern Art in Mendoza

José Luis Molina with his work ´Límites` y Luis Freire with `Proyecto 1980`.

Time: 9 a 20

Place: Museo Municipal de Arte Moderno de Mendoza (Plaza Independencia, Ciudad, Mendoza)

Phone: 4257279

Mail: mmamm@ciudaddemendoza.gov.ar

Price: $ 8

Monday, August 8

Language Learning-Intercultural meetings points. Practice new languages with native speakers.

Time 21.30

Place Kasa Babylön. San Martín 1701 de G. Cruz.

Price Free.

Dance-Tango Night.  Alberto Luchetti (voice) and Ballet de Marta Morel -Gonzalo Cano (dance).

Time 21.30

Place Tajamar. Peatonal Alameda 1921, Cdad. 4256165.

Wednesday, August 10

Tea and Style Tips at La Bourgogne de Diplomatic Hotel, Alejandro Ferraro presents his collection “Alquimia”.

Time 17.30 RSVP. Reservations: 405 1999 or e-mail labourgogne@parksuites.com.ar

CINEMA-Cineclub Stocco. Ciclo David Cronenberg: “Dead Ringers”.

Time 21.00

Place Microcine Municipal. 9 de julio 500, Cdad. 4495381.

MUSIC-Epicentro (rock).

Time 21.30

Place Tajamar. Peatonal Alameda 1921, Cdad. 4256165.

Thursday, August 11

DANCE-“Gracias por abrazarme”. Flamenco. Dir. Pablo Garay.

Time 22.00

Place Teatro Quintanilla.

Price $30 AR

“Argentinos por siempre (Argentineans Forever)” (Tango and Folklore).

Time 22.30

Place Tajamar. Peatonal Alameda 1921, Cdad. 4256165.

Friday, August 12

MUSIC-“Malevaje a dos pianos” (Tango)

Time 21.30

Place Tajamar. Peatonal Alameda 1921, Cdad. 4256165.

MUSIC- Playbacks (Piano Bar).

Time-00.00

Place Sebastián Bar

Saturday, August 13

CINEMA-“Romeo y Julieta”. Dir. Franco Zeffirelli.

Time 19.00

Place Colegio de Arquitectos de Mendoza. Mitre 617, 1º Piso, Cdad.

Price Free

MUSIC-Tango. Guest Artists.

Time 21.30

Place Tajamar. Peatonal Alameda 1921, Cdad. 4256165.

MUSIC-Dúo Miremont-Darian

Time 23.30

Place Sebastián Bar.

Posted in Experiences, In the News, Life in Mendoza, Promotions, Vines Events | No Comments »


Vinos y Tapas Night at the Park Hyatt

Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011

To be honest, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect about the Vinos y Tapas at The Vines Bar and Vinoteca at the Park Hyatt. It can be  intimidating enough mingling at social events without factoring in the language barrier.

HOWEVER, last Thursday night was quite a pleasant surprise. My boyfriend and I walked in fashionably late at 8:15 (yes, very early by Argentine standards) and grabbed a table strategically situated equidistant between the kitchen and the bar. If I had arrived slightly earlier, I would’ve tried to snag the couch (I love how Argentina has incorporated the sofa into the bar atmosphere) and if it were slightly warmer, the beautifully lit outside patio.

To dispel any misconceptions you might have, let me give you my take on the event.

1. The event is classy, but no cocktail attire required. I know that especially when I’m traveling, clothing choices are limited, but don’t miss the event just because you didn’t bring your heels. Jeans and a nice top will suffice.

2. There’s a mix of people from all different countries and all different backgrounds–everyone from expats who’ve lived in Mendoza for years to backpackers just passing through so no need to feel self-conscious if you don’t speak much Spanish. 3. The atmosphere is very relaxed. If you feel like mingling with other people, there are plenty of people around at the bar or outside ready to swap stories. If you’ve had a long day and just feel like relaxing with your glass of wine and tapas, that’s fine too.  4. And finally, tapas can mean many things. In the case of the Park Hyatt, it means a variety of delicious and hearty tapas being served by waiters without end. Be sure not to make dinner plans for afterwards as you will definitely be full. Waiters will serve you to your heart’s content.

To give you an idea of the menu:

-2 glasses of wine from Bodega Catena Zapata

-Mushroom and chicken quesadillas

-Lentil soup

-Veal brochette

-Cheese and apricot on toasted bread

-Parmesan cheese biscuits

I left at 10 p.m. since I was leaving for Peru the next day, but the waiters were still circulating and guests were still happily chatting, eating and drinking at their leisure. A great idea and value (only 55 pesos) for your Thursday night!

Posted in Experiences, Life in Mendoza, Mendoza Bodegas, Photos, Vines Events | No Comments »


Copa America in Mendoza

Wednesday, July 20th, 2011
 

My house mates and I decided to go to the Copa America Semi-finals on Wednesday night to see Venezuela play against Paraguay. It was actually the first soccer game I’ve ever gone to, despite the fact I lived in Sevilla, Spain for six months (shameful, I know) so I wasn’t sure what to expect or even how to go about getting tickets.

For this particular game, we knew Chileans would be trying to scalp their tickets since Chile didn’t make it to the semi-finals as they had hoped. We started walking to the stadium at 5:30 p.m. the day of the game and didn’t even make it a block before three people offered to sell us tickets. We bargained to pay half price (100 pesos) and as a bonus, our seller said he would give us a ride to the game as well.

However, to buy a ticket directly you can also go to Ticketek or to the stadium ticket office. Hint: Careful buying scalped tickets. Apparently, if you rip the corner of the ticket and it’s red, then it’s a real ticket.

For this particular game, it wasn’t important to arrive early.  In fact, it was very odd to be at the Copa America semi-final game and see the stadium half full, if that, and unfortunately, the game was pretty uneventful (no goals). However, the crowd of Chileans, who apparently were unable to sell their tickets, were quite entertaining. They broke out into spontaneous cheers for Chile, nevermind the fact that Chile wasn’t playing. There was also a heavyset man running around with the Chilean flag for the majority of the game. 

As you might expect, there were very few women in the crowd; it will probably be one of the only instances in which the men’s bathroom is more crowded than the women’s. As you might NOT expect, they only serve non-alcoholic beer at the stadiums. My boyfriend quickly canceled his order when he found out. The only food they serve is hot dogs and hamburgers and for drinks, coffee and soda. That said, I saw several people bring food in; I was very surprised that both at the stadium and at the movie theaters in Mendoza, you can bring your own food.

Finally, my last impression was that for whatever reason, penalty kicks are less tense to watch in person than on t.v. I usually can hardly watch them at my house, but at the stadium, it was no big deal. But that might have to do with the freezing temperatures. Overall, I would highly recommend going to any games in Mendoza if you have the chance.

What’s Going on in Mendoza?  Wednesday, July 20-Sunday, July 24

Photo of the Week by Brad Cooper

Photo of the Week by Brad Cooper

Wednesday, July 20: Dia del Amigo: Be sure to tell friends how much they mean to you!

Sports:

21:45-Copa America (in Mendoza!) Paraguay vs. Venezuela

Club & Bar Specials/Events:

20:00-Fiesta Copada at Tajamar to celebrate the Copa America & Dia del Amigo (DJ-Laureano Manson)

22:00-Fiesta Copada at Juan Sebastian bar (game on big screen; comedy show afterwards)

Thursday, July 21:

Vines of Mendoza Event

20:00-Vinos y Tapas at the Vines Bar & Vinoteca (55 pesos): Every Thursday night at the luxurious deck of The Vines Wine Bar & Vinoteca, we host a decadent vinos y tapas events. A local winery is showcased every week with unique and succulent pairings available as you mingle and enjoy the laid back Mendocino lifestyle.

Friday, July 22:

Music:

23:30-”Space Garage” in concert at La Mala (San Martin y Maipu), Natalio Faingold

 Saturday, July 23:

Arts:

20:00-Campeonato Mundial del Tango (Tango Championship Semi-finals)  at Club Mendoza de Regatas

10:30hs Hotel Alcor (Gral. Paz 86)  12:30hs Hotel Balbi (Av. Las Heras 340)- Dance and Music from La Municipalidad de la Ciudad de Mendoza: Rubén Giménez y Ballet Juvenil Municipal (folclore) y Antonio Rivero y Ballet Mayor Municipal (tango)

Sports:

16:00-Copa America: Peru vs ? (playing for third place) in La Plata

Sunday, July 24:

Arts:

20:30-Campeonato Mundial del Tango (Tango Championship) at Teatro Independencia

Sports:

16:00-Copa America Final: Uruguay vs. ? in Buenos Aires

For additional events, including those geared towards children, check out the monthly event guide La Guia. If you would like to submit a Photo of the Week or know of any interesting events coming up, please send an email to carolyn@vinesofmendoza.com.ar

Carolyn is a newcomer to Mendoza and the wine industry and will be sharing her experiences as she learns more        about both, as well as giving updates about local events.  A recent college graduate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she also teaches English at a local university.

 

Posted in Experiences, Life in Mendoza, Uncategorized, Vines Events | No Comments »


Winemaker’s Night: Chacra from Rio Negro, Patagonia!

Tuesday, July 19th, 2011

Learning the history about Bodega Chacra is like following the royal wedding. It’s historical, exclusive, but most of all, classy.

To start, the owner, Piero Incisa della Rocchetta, hails from one of the most esteemed winemaking families in Italy.  The family winery produces the stunning Sassacaia wines, a European wine that broke the mold of what world class wine is made of and the traditions that surround it. Click here to learn more about how Piero’s grandfather, Mario Incisa della Rocchetta, went from making excellent wine for just his family to owning the only single winery DOC in Italy.

Secondly, Chacra only makes four different wines, three Pinot Noirs and one Merlot: Barda, a blend of their Pinot Noirs; Chacra Treinta y Dos and Chacra Cincuenta y Cinco, both Pinot Noirs; and finally, Mainque, the sole Merlot. Each of these bottles carries a price tag between 160 pesos (Barda) to more than 400 pesos. These high-end wines are so in-demand that Chacra lovers must pre-order to ensure the wines aren’t sold out.

Finally, although we did not meet Piero last night, you can tell by hearing how he runs his bodega and his philosophy about the wine, that he’s a classy guy. Read this excerpt from Laura Catena’s interview with Piero in An Insider’s Guide to the Wines and Wine Country of Argentina:

“Today at our winery in Chacra, we have a traditional artisanal approach to winemaking. We do pretty much everything by hand–we prune, harvest and de-stem by hand; we vinify without machinery or steel; and most of the time we decant by gravity. Chacra is not a conventional business; it’s a passion, a personal folly…Our goal is to keep producing single-vineyard biodynamic wines that are of consequence, as we believe that our terroir is capable of yielding wines that are unique in character.”

As an added bonus, next-door neighbor Bodega Noemia, which Chacra considers its “cousin” winery (which produces Malbec) is owned by the renowned Dutch winemaker Hans Vinding-Diers and Italian Countess Noemi Marone Cinzano.

We tasted a 2009 Barda and then compared a 2009 Chacra Cincuenta y Cinco to a 2010 Chacra Cincuenta y Cinco. Read Vines of Mendoza blogger Emily Camblin’s recent blog review on these wines and her visit to Bodega Chacra.

Carolyn is a newcomer to Mendoza and the wine industry and will be sharing her experiences as she learns more about both, as well as giving updates about local events.  A recent college graduate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she also teaches English at a local university.

Posted in Photos, Tasting Notes, Uncategorized, Vines Events | No Comments »


Bodega Corvus at Winemaker’s Night

Friday, April 15th, 2011

Wednesday nights at Vines equal Winemaker love! This week we were pleased to discover the wines of Bodega Corvus, makers of Ala Negra, the bottle with the beautiful label that you’ve probably been wondering about. Joining us to talk about the wines was Gabriela Celeste, winemaker at Bodega Corvus and a member of Enorolland, Michel Rolland’s consulting team. A special treat this week, the wines were paired with dishes created by Marcos Zabaleta, executive chef at Chandon.

The wing! Long family history explains the lone crow wing gracing the labels of these bottles. Ala Negra means “black wing” in Spanish, and this symbol is a tribute to the family’s ancestors who were instrumental in founding Chile.  The Corvalan family shield displays five crow wings like the one on the label. What’s more, the label was designed by Cris Delhez, a famed Argentine painter and sculptor.

The pairings were a delight! With the 2010 Torrontes, we enjoyed a fresh shrimp tartar over avocado and warm tomato confit. The lively floral and citrus characteristics of the wine (produced with grapes from the Calchaqui Valley in Salta) married well with the acid in the fish and avocado.  A light and summery combination. With the 2009 Malbec Rose, Zabaleta prepared a buttered trout crostini with quince honey. The notes of wild cherry and strawberry in the wine complimented the warm, savory trout mini-sandwich well and the quince honey was a nice contrast for this dry rose. Chorizo and Portobello empanadas brought out lots of black and red pepper spices in the 2008 Malbec. This fruit-forward Malbec provided a lively, juicy counterpoint to the richness of the pastry. Finally, veal confit over almond risotto was a nicely rich and savory accompaniment to the 2008 Reserva Malbec, a full-bodied red full of boysenberry and red flowers with spicy tannins and a chocolately finish.

Gabriela Celeste shared with us her passion for winemaking as she explained vineyard practices and how they affect the finished product. As all of the Malbec grapes come from the same vineyard in Lunlunta, Maipu, some are chosen for the rose, some for the classic line, and only the best go into the reserve line. As she spoke, branches crackled and leaves fell from the atrium  ceiling- a result of the strong “Zonda” winds blowing that day.  Celeste talked about how the Zonda could negatively affect the vines during pollination in the springtime, but are not much threat to the vines at harvest time, as the grapes have already developed and most have reached full maturity.

In all it was another interesting, tasty Wednesday night at the Vines of Mendoza.  Thanks to Bodega Corvus and Gabriela Celeste for presenting their wines and to Marcos Zabaleta for providing the parings. See you next week!

About the author: Cara De Lavallade is a Level II Court of Masters Sommelier from Seattle, Washington. Temporarily relocated to Mendoza, she is smelling and tasting all she can to gain a better understanding of the local juice.  Look for her wine reviews, bodega visits, and other winey musings on The Vines of Mendoza blog this spring.

Posted in Experiences, Mendoza Bodegas, Tasting Notes, Vines Events | 1 Comment »


Rats in the Cellar!

Friday, April 15th, 2011

With the Malbec harvest in full swing, there is no shortage of Private Vineyard Estate owners here in The Vines’ bodega to help us turn their grapes into wine. Currently, we are hosting “Cellar Rats” from Canada, Ecuador and the USA who are eagerly absorbing every last bit of knowledge available from our team of winemakers, wine consultants and sommeliers.

Part of my role at The Vines of Mendoza is to help the Cellar Rats find their way around the winery and guide them through the vinification process. At the moment, we are keeping busy with grape sorting, barrel stirring, punch-downs, pump-overs, and fermentation monitoring. Even with all of the work to do, we still find time to enjoy drinking wine in the sun and take pleasure in the view of the Andes Mountain Range.

Some Cellar Rats have made special requests to partake in The Vines’ wine education programs lead by Wine Director Mariana Onofri. The first course explains how to assess a finished wine, and touches on the varietals that Argentina does best. The second course covers grape assessment in both the vineyard and the laboratory. The third course teaches the winemaking process and includes plenty of tank and barrel tastings. Furthermore, it discusses how to best serve wine and possible wine faults. While smelling foul fragrance oils representing wine faults might sound unpleasant, it is surprisingly great fun.

It is a great pleasure to share the full winemaking process, and our collective knowledge, with the Cellar Rats. Soon, they will all be winemakers in their own right; and their newly expanded wine expertise will only ensure to them that we at The Vines of Mendoza are taking the best care in producing their wine.

About the author: Lindsay Trivers is a Sommelier at The Vines of Mendoza , in the most recent chapter of her world-wide wine discovery tour. She has worked extensively throughout Canada , New Zealand and Australia , developing her palate and working vintages along the way. While here, in Mendoza , she will be living and reporting on life at the bodega (winery), plus the happenings from the tasting room and cellar. Stay tuned to The Vines of Mendoza Blog for vintage updates, wine tips and reviews, to find out how our guests are keeping busy, and much, much more.

Posted in Experiences, Harvest Diary, Life in Mendoza, Private Vineyard Estates, Vines Events | No Comments »


Winemaker’s Night with Gimenez Riili

Friday, April 8th, 2011

At another packed Winemaker’s Night this week, we were excited to host winemaker Pablo Martorell and the wines from Bodega Gimenez Riili! A family project more than sixty years in the making, the Gimenez Riili winery just finished construction on a brand new winery in the Uco Valley. Literally, it opened yesterday! Among the chaos of harvest and opening an brand new winery, Pablo Martorell and winery owner Pablo Gimenez Riili made time to chat with us about the history of the project and the new developments.

Started in Maipu, Gimenez Riili has three generations of family behind it. Now, with the new bodega in Uco Valley, they are blending grapes from their vineyards in the two regions to achieve greater complexity in the reds.  While vines in Maipu are highly productive, and bear grapes that have fruitier flavors, Uco Valley vines produce more concentrated fruit at lower yields.  In blending grapes from the two regions, Pablo can create a wine with intensity and fresh juicy fruit flavors. The Perpetuum Torrontes is the only oddball- made with grapes coming from the Famatina Valley in La Rioja, the hot new spot to grow Torrontes.

Gimenez Riili also spoke about his connection with Vines of Mendoza, as he is part owner of Vines as well as continuing the family project. His new winery in Uco Valley is actually part of a new “wine village” that the Vines is working on near our own vineyards. This wine village will bring together eight different boutique wineries in one easy-to-access area for Uco Valley visitors.  The Riili bodega is the first of these to officially open up this week.

Throughout the night the conversation kept coming back to the theme of blending grapes from different regions. Riili explained that because the Uco Valley is pristine in being relatively pest-free, the area is controlled, making it very complicated to bring in grapes from other areas, such as Maipu.  Thus his Maipu Malbec is crushed and fermented in the old bodega, then transported in stainless steel tanks to the Uco bodega where it is blended with the Uco Malbec.

The wines were exceptional.  We began with the citrusy 2010 Perpetuum Torrontes.  With crisp tropical fruit on the palate, this white has a clean, mineral-driven finish and a final floral note that lingers. Pablo told the crowd that this is the official summer Sunday family lunch wine for the Gimenez Riilis.  The 2008 Perpetuum Merlot has plenty of dried fruit, flower, and black cherry with a pleasant smokiness.  This wine was the first star of the bodega, selling more than Malbec in the beginning of the project. The 2008 Vista Flores Reserva Malbec was a lovely melange of black pepper spice, black plum, and violet with a hint of smoked meat. Rich, with spicy tannins, this single-vineyard Malbec earned 89 points from Steven Tanzer.

Finally, the super-star of the night, Riili’s 2008 Altamira Malbec displayed sweet red plum, pepper, and red flower petals on the nose, with bright fresh red fruit and toast on the palate with a rich, chocolaty finish. Just in the bottle, this wine won’t be released for another six months.  The previous vintage of this Malbec  scored an impressive 93 points by the Wine Advocate.

Overall another great evening with good company and impressive wines. Thanks again to Pablo Martorell, Pablo Gimenez Riili, and Don Eduardo Gimenez for making time to share their work with us!

Posted in Mendoza Bodegas, Tasting Notes, Vines Events | No Comments »


Winemaker’s Night with Clos de los Siete

Friday, April 1st, 2011

This week we were excited to host Marcelo Pelleriti, head winemaker for Monteviejo, a Clos de los Siete winery.  Arriving straight from the airport, just off a flight from Buenos Aires, Marcelo arrived fashionably late and smiling. In the middle of the busy harvest, it was great to see such a famed winemaker take time out to visit with us at Vines.

To begin the evening was a slideshow about the Clos de los Siete project in the Uco Valley.  In 1998, French wine consultant Michel Rolland began realizing a dream to make premium Argentine wines in a French style.  He now owns the largest area of vineyard land in South America dedicated solely to premium wine production, and here sits the seven wineries of Clos de los Siete, all managed by French owners of Bordeaux chateaus.  Marcelo Pelleriti spends half of the year making wines at Monteviejo and the other half making wine in Bordeaux at Chateau Violette and Chateaux Le Gay.

Monteviejo was the first Clos winery to be built, harvesting the first vintage in 2002.  Focusing on Chardonnay and Malbec-based blends in the hi-tech, gravity-flow winery, Pelleriti strives to create wines with new world concentration and old world structure and acidity. The tasting on Wednesday consisted of four red wines, the 2008 Clos de los Siete (Malbec, Merlot, Cab, Syrah), 2008 Petit Fleur (Malbec, Cabernet), 2007 Monteviejo (Malbec, Syrah), and the 2006 Lindaflor Malbec.

Much of the evening’s conversation centered around the process of barrel fermenting reds and the details of this years harvest.  For his Lindaflor Malbec, Pelleriti ferments whole cluster berries in French oak barrels, adding dry ice to the barrel two to three times daily to control the temperature. The process beings as a sort of carbonic maceration, with the juice fermenting inside the skins at first. Then, a form of “pigeage”, or punch down, is used to distribute color and tannin from the skins to the juice. While barrel fermenting is normally used in the production of full-bodied white wines, the practice in reds is fairly unusual. Pelleriti speculates that if he had suggested such an idea while studying oenology at university, he definitely would have been kicked out of class. Nevertheless, he believes this method helps to create reds with better oak integration and complexity.

As for the harvest, November hail damaged many vines in the Uco Valley last year, and Monteviejo was not an exception.  For aesthetic purposes, only one hectare of Chardonnay vines are protected by hail nets in these vineyards, leaving the rest vulnerable to such inclement weather.  Although production will be lower this year, Pelleriti still predicts a high quality harvest.

The best treat of the evening was the 2006 Lindaflor Malbec, which recently won an Argentina Wine Award for the best Malbec over $50.  Intensely concentrated, blackish-red in color, the wine opened with aromas of coffee, ripe blackberries, and chocolate.  Still young after 5 years of age, this wine is complex and delicious, but will drink even better in seven to ten years time.

Thanks to Marcelo Pelleriti, Pablo Molinengo and Clos de los Siete for a superb evening with an outstanding selection of wines! Stay tuned for next weeks winemaker!!

About the author: Cara De Lavallade is a Level II Court of Masters Sommelier from Seattle, Washington. Temporarily relocated to Mendoza, she is smelling and tasting all she can to gain a better understanding of the local juice.  Look for her wine reviews, bodega visits, and other winey musings on The Vines of Mendoza blog this spring.

Posted in Experiences, Mendoza Bodegas, Vines Events | No Comments »


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