Torrontés Laborum de Parcela 2023

Originating from the Cafayate Valley in Salta , Argentina, this Laborum de Parcela Torrontés cuvée comes from an exceptional plot planted in 1945. The vines are perched at an altitude of approximately 1,650 meters on yield-limiting gravel and sand soils that benefit from a microclimate marked by strong day/night temperature variations and morning breezes. This high-altitude terroir allows the Torrontés to develop an intense aromatic expression while maintaining freshness and precision, the signature of Cafayate wines.

Vinification begins with a manual harvest and rigorous selection of the bunches, followed by whole bunch pressing. Approximately 20% of the must ferments with the whole grapes (with their stems). The wine is then aged for 8 months on lees in concrete eggs , without barrel aging. Light filtering takes place before bottling, aiming to preserve the aromatic purity of the variety while ensuring elegance and finesse.

This wine reveals notes of ripe lemon , yuzu zest , jasmine , anise, dried herbs, chalk , orange blossom and lemon verbena. The palate offers a beautiful balance between freshness and roundness, a tracery acidity giving an impression of energy and liveliness linked to the Andean terroir.

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 by Italian settlers. Unlike Chile, wine has long been part of the country's culture. No wine-producing country in the world made more progress in the last years of the 20th century (on a viticultural and oenological level, and necessarily financially), which allowed the country's wine producers to raise 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 primarily in the foothills of the Andes, particularly in Mendoza, where desert landscapes and high altitudes combine to produce aromatic and intensely flavored wines. Some vineyards can even be planted at altitudes of up to 3,000 meters! 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.