Matías Riccitelli Old Vine From Patagonia Sémillon 2024

This vintage is made from old, forgotten vines (not affected by phylloxera) over 50 years old located in Río Negro in Patagonia , in the far south of Argentina . Sun exposure is more intense than in the northern regions of Argentina, but at this latitude, the nights are much colder. This range of daily daytime temperatures is excellent for producing quality grapes because nighttime cooling prolongs the ripening period, allowing the grapes to develop rich varietal characteristics while maintaining balanced acidity. The grapes were harvested at perfect ripeness in small 20 kg crates to keep each bunch intact. Careful hand selection was carried out before maceration and fermentation. Then, 60% of the wine is fermented naturally in used French oak barrels and 40% in concrete eggs. The aging will last 8 months in these same containers. This wine has all the seriousness, subtlety, elegance and nuances that Sémillon is capable of. On the palate, it is a collection of citrus fruits which is expressed in particular on grapefruit , lime and orange peel . We then find notes of brioche , vanilla , beeswax , white pepper , basil and flint . The wine is round and lively at the same time, leaving in the mouth a freshness worthy of great white wines and a magnificent saline length. How good it is!

Although Argentina is considered the "new world", its wine tradition is much older than one might think, dating back to the time of Spanish colonization, in the 16th century and then by Italian settlers. Unlike Chile, wine has long been part of the country's culture.



No wine-producing country in the world has made more progress in the last years of the 20th century (on the viticultural and oenological level and necessarily financially) which has allowed the country's wine producers to increase quality levels and 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 particularly in Mendoza, where the desert landscapes and high altitudes combine to give rise to aromatic and intensely perfumed wines. Some vineyards can even be planted up to 3000 meters above sea level!



The terroir here is well suited to the grape variety adopted by Argentina: the omnipresent Malbec. Originally from Bordeaux, he is today responsible for some of the most famous Argentinian wines, which are characterized by their brightness and intensity, with floral notes and dark fruit flavors. Other red varieties produced in Argentina are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Bonarda, Syrah, Tempranillo and Pinot Noir. Among white wines, the emblematic grape variety of the Argentine wine region is Torrontés, which gives a wine with a floral and tropical taste. The country also produces Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio. Today, Argentinian wines are recognized throughout the world for their full-bodied reds and as high-quality wines.