Finca Sophenia Reserve Merlot 2008
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Roberto Luka, inspirer and the main shareholder of Finca Sophenia, holds a recognized background in the wine world. He was Managing Director of one of the main wine exporter companies of his country and President of Wines of Argentina. In 1997, he founded Finca Sophenia together with Gustavo Benvenuto. He named it this way after the names of their daughters: Sophia and Eugenia. Later, his friends and businessmen from other sectors joined this venture: Néstor Rebagliati and Daniel Sammartino.
The in-house winemaker, Julia Halupczok, and consultant Matias Michelini form the winemaking team.
With generous fruit and supple tannins, Merlot is made in a range of styles from everyday-drinking to world-renowned and age-worthy. Merlot is the dominant variety in the wines from Bordeaux’s Right Bank regions of St. Emilion and Pomerol, where it is often blended with Cabernet Franc to spectacular result. Merlot also frequently shines on its own, particularly in California’s Napa Valley. Somm Secret—As much as Miles derided the variety in the 2004 film, Sideways, his prized 1961 Château Cheval Blanc is actually a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
With a winning combination of cool weather, high elevation and well-draining alluvial soils, it is no surprise that Mendoza’s Uco Valley is one of the most exciting up-and-coming wine regions in Argentina. Healthy, easy-to-manage vines produce low yields of high-quality fruit, which in turn create flavorful, full-bodied wines with generous acidity.
This is the source of some of the best Malbec in Mendoza, which can range from value-priced to ultra-premium. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay also perform well here.