Manos Negras Red Soil Select Pinot Noir 2011
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2014-
James
Suckling
Manos Negras focuses on latitude winemaking. Argentina and Chile's winemaking regions stretch 1,500 miles north to south along the Andes. Each latitude possesses a unique terroir with singular combinations of soil and temperature which are ideally suited for different varietals. Manos Negras uses the unique skills of three immigrants to Argentina-New Zealand winemakers Duncan Killiner and Jason Mabbett, and American wine educator Jeff Mausbach- as well as the renown Argentine viticulturist Alejandro Sejanovich to craft wines based on exciting terroir-varietal combinations.
Thin-skinned, finicky and temperamental, Pinot Noir is also one of the most rewarding grapes to grow and remains a labor of love for some of the greatest vignerons in Burgundy. Fairly adaptable but highly reflective of the environment in which it is grown, Pinot Noir prefers a cool climate and requires low yields to achieve high quality. Outside of France, outstanding examples come from in Oregon, California and throughout specific locations in wine-producing world. Somm Secret—André Tchelistcheff, California’s most influential post-Prohibition winemaker decidedly stayed away from the grape, claiming “God made Cabernet. The Devil made Pinot Noir.”
One of the most southerly regions on the globe for fine wine production, Patagonia has experienced extraordinary vineyard expansion since the early 2000s.
Patagonia vineyards occupy the lower foothills of the Andes at 1,000 to 1,600 feet. Here cold air drops at night from incredibly steep elevations—the Andes reach well over 15,000 feet in this zone—a phenomenon that produces drastic diurnal shifts. Cold nights contrasted with hot summer days produce grapes with striking color, full ripeness, great finesse and aromatic intensity.
Favored for its luxury brands, the Patagonia wine growing region of Argentina focuses on a diverse array of international varieties: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillón and Viognier among the white grapes, and Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon for reds.