Baron Edmond de Rothschild Aguaribay Malbec 2017
Winemaker Notes
The passion for wine that runs in the French branch of the Rothschild family was born in 1868 when James de Rothschild purchased Château Lafite. His great-grandson, Edmond de Rothschild, began a new chapter in the family adventure in 1973 by acquiring new properties throughout Bordeaux. In 1997, Benjamin & Ariane de Rothschild gave a dramatic boost to their portfolio by exploring new terroirs around the world. Wishing to apply traditional French expertise while maintaining local winegrowing practices, they created joint ventures with families that possessed the same entrepreneurial spirit and love of wine.
Aguaribay is a result of the partnership between Baron Benjamin de Rothschild and Mr. Laurent Dassault on a unique terroir situated at the foot of the Andes cordillera, to the south of Mendoza. The Malbec grape variety reigns in this alluvial terroir of the Andes. The finest plots have been selected to offer you a wine that is the expression of a pure, top of the range Argentinean Malbec.
By far the largest and best-known winemaking province in Argentina, Mendoza is responsible for over 70% of the country’s enological output. Set in the eastern foothills of the Andes Mountains, the climate is dry and continental, presenting relatively few challenges for viticulturists during the growing season. Mendoza, divided into several distinctive sub-regions, including Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley, is the source of some of the country’s finest wines.
For many wine lovers, Mendoza is practically synonymous with Malbec. Originally a Bordelaise variety brought to Argentina by the French in the mid-1800s, here it found success and renown that it never knew in its homeland where a finicky climate gives mixed results. Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot and Pinot Noir are all widely planted here as well (and sometimes even blended with each other or Malbec). Mendoza's main white varieties include Chardonnay, Torrontés, Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon.
Celebrated for its bold flavors and supple texture, Malbec has enjoyed runaway success in Argentina since the late 20th century. The grape originated in Bordeaux, France, where it historically contributed color and tannin to blends. A French agronomist, who saw great potential for the variety in Mendoza’s hot, high-altitude landscape, brought Malbec to Argentina in 1868. Somm Secret—If you’re trying to please a crowd, Malbec is generally a safe bet with its combination of dense fruit and soft tannins.