Matías Riccitelli Old Vine From Patagonia Pinot Noir 2024

This cuvée has its roots in vineyards planted in the 1960s in the heart of Argentine Patagonia. This wine is made from grapes grown on a single plot planted ungrafted (pre-phylloxera vines) in 1967 in the Guerrico area. Lying on the banks of the Rio Negro, the vineyards grow on silty-sandy and sandy soils. The grapes are harvested by hand in small 20 kg crates. The wine is made with 25% whole bunches and the rest is destemmed. On arrival, the grapes are placed in small concrete vats where they ferment with native yeasts. For several weeks, gentle punching down is carried out by hand to achieve a slow, delicate extraction. Ageing continues in old French oak barrels for around 10 months. This wine reveals aromas of pomegranate, cherry, plum, raspberry, blue flowers, menthol, white pepper and undergrowth. The palate is mouth-watering, with almost imperceptible tannins and an airy, vibrant texture..

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.