Roca Madre Malbec 2018

This 100% Malbec cuvée is made from grapes from the Rio Hurtado site, in the estate's highlands at 1,600 metres above sea level. The grapes were harvested by hand at full ripeness and placed in 20 kg crates to avoid any damage. Fermentation took place in stainless-steel tanks at temperatures between 22 °C and 27 °C. Extraction is gentle to preserve aromatic finesse. The wine was then aged for 18 months in French oak barrels, giving it structure while retaining the expression of the fruit.

This wine reveals aromas of blackberries, plum, black cherry, floral notes, graphite, tobacco and spices, with herbaceous nuances. On the palate, the wine is silky and refined, with superb minerality and a radiant finish.

It was Hernán Cortés who ordered, upon the conquest of Mexico, the cultivation of vines in 1524. It gradually extended from Mexico southwards to reach Chile in 1555. During the first 3 centuries of colonization, there was no Cultivated in Chile as país, a black grape variety without character and very productive. It was not until the middle of the 19th century that noble varieties were introduced: mainly cabernet sauvignon, merlot, syrah, sauvignon blanc and chardonnay. Twenty years later, winemaking was modernized under the leadership of wealthy owners and French experts who were forced into unemployment by phylloxera in Europe. Chile stretches 4,300 kilometers from north to south. It is wedged between the Pacific Ocean to the west, the Andes Mountains to the east, the Atacama Desert to the north, the Patagonian plains and glaciers to the south. These natural barriers prevented phylloxera from entering the country. Although the country is only 160 kilometers wide, it has ideal conditions for growing warm, intermediate and cool grape varieties, so much so that it is often described as a paradise for growing grapes. With nearly 300 properties producing bottled wines, Chile fluctuates between 6th and 8th place in the world.