Malbec Gran Reserva 2016

Located in Luján de Cuyo, at the foot of the Andes, Caelum's 2016 Malbec Gran Reserva cuvée thrives on a clay-limestone terroir located at an altitude of 1,000 meters. The vineyard, cultivated using sustainable agriculture, benefits from a semi-arid continental climate, characterized by generous sunshine and a temperature range that promotes slow and even ripening of the berries. This unique context gives the Malbec a remarkable intensity, while preserving freshness and finesse, thus allowing the expression of a distinguished wine, typical of this high place of Mendocino viticulture.

Vinification begins with a five-day cold pre-fermentation maceration to gently extract the primary aromas and color. Alcoholic fermentation lasts twenty days in stainless steel vats, triggered by selected yeasts, with three daily pumping overs to ensure optimal extraction. After malolactic fermentation, the wine is aged for twenty months on lees in new 300-liter French oak barrels. This long aging gives the wine a full-bodied structure, increased complexity, and an elegant oak patina that enriches its sensory profile.

This wine reveals notes of black cherry , blackberry , plum , violet , mushroom , smoke , undergrowth and licorice . The palate is ample and structured, carried by firm but perfectly integrated tannins. The aromatic richness is balanced with a lively acidity that energizes the tasting and prolongs the persistence. The finish, deep and silky, stretches on accents of damp earth and sweet spices , reflecting the alliance between power and refinement that characterizes the great Malbecs for aging.

Although Argentina is considered the "New World," its winemaking tradition is much older than one might think, dating back to the time of Spanish colonization in the 16th century and later to Italian settlers. Unlike Chile, wine has long been a part of the country's culture. No wine-producing country in the world made more progress in the final years of the 20th century (in terms of viticulture and oenology, and necessarily financially), which allowed the country's wine producers to raise quality levels and successfully consolidate an international export market. Argentina has now become the fifth largest wine-producing country in the world, after France, Italy, Spain, and the United States. Viticulture is practiced mainly in the foothills of the Andes, and more specifically in Mendoza, where desert landscapes and high altitudes combine to give rise to aromatic and intensely perfumed wines. Some vineyards can even be planted up to 3,000 meters above sea level! The terroir here is well-suited to Argentina's adopted grape variety: the ubiquitous Malbec. Originally from Bordeaux, it is now responsible for some of Argentina's most famous wines, characterized by their brightness and intensity, with floral notes and black fruit flavors. Other red varieties produced in Argentina include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Bonarda, Syrah, Tempranillo, and Pinot Noir. Among white wines, the emblematic grape of the Argentine wine region is Torrontés, which produces a wine with a floral and tropical flavor. The country also produces Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Grigio. Today, Argentine wines are recognized worldwide for their full-bodied reds and as high-quality wines.