Manos Negras Pinot Noir 2008
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Robert
Parker
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Light to medium cherry red color; cinnamon, clove, strawberry, and cherry aromas and flavors.
Other Vintages
2015-
Robert
Parker
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Robert
Parker
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.”
With vineyards tretching along the eastern side of the Andes Mountains from Patagonia in the south to Salta in the north, Argentina is one of the world’s largest and most dynamic wine producing countries—and most important in South America.
Since the late 20th century vineyard investments, improved winery technology and a commitment to innovation have all contributed to the country’s burgeoning image as a producer of great wines at all price points. The climate here is diverse but generally continental and agreeable, with hot, dry summers and cold snowy winters—a positive, as snow melt from the Andes Mountains is used heavily to irrigate vineyards. Grapes very rarely have any difficulty achieving full ripeness.
Argentina’s famous Mendoza region, responsible for more than 70% of Argentina’s wine production, is further divided into several sub-regions, with Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley most noteworthy. Red wines dominate here, especially Malbec, the country’s star variety, while Chardonnay is the most successful white.
The province of San Juan is best known for blends of Bonarda and Syrah. Torrontés is a specialty of the La Rioja and Salta regions, the latter of which is also responsible for excellent Malbecs grown at very high elevation.