Growing Conditions
A Blend of Four Vineyards - vineyards are divided into lots that are harvested at different times:
Agrelo: (3,117 ft (950 m) elevation. Citrus and peach fruit flavors.
Villa Bastías: 3,675 ft (1,120 m) elevation. Stone fruit aromas and a rich texture.
Gualtallary: 4,757 ft (1,450 m) elevation. Lively floral notes, strong mineral character and cool climate bright acidity.
El Cepillo: 3,576 ft (1,090 m) elevation. Aluvial origin. Loam-sandy soil with thick calcareous layers and rounded rocks on the bottom.
We were concerned that there would be problems with frost, because of the dry spring, but a constant evening breeze made frosts rare this year. And outside of Agrelo, there were no significant hail storms. We expected the harvest to be larger than usual, but the combination of dry weather and cool climate resulted in yields slightly lower than the norm.
A warm April at the beginning of Autumn guaranteed a healthy harvest of our cool climate Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon from the highest altitude areas.
Harvest
Dry weather (precipitations 20-60% lower than usual), small berries and slightly lower yields; cooler temperatures overall. The 2019 harvest happened about 1-3 weeks earlier than usual, and the grapes were in pristine condition with not a drop of botrytis or downy mildew.
A high skin/juice ratio that resulted from the small berry size, made for highly concentrated wines with great color. Acidities ran higher than usual due to the cool climate. We expect the 2019 wines to be approachable when young, but also able to age.
Winemaking
Whole cluster pressed; fermented, sur lies, in barrels and stainless steel. Wild yeasts. Elevage: 10 months in French oak. Barrel selection varies depending on vineyard and vintage – First, Second and third use barrels used. 40% does not undergo malolactic fermentation.
- Total Acidity: 5.7 grams/liter
