Winemaker Notes
The critically acclaimed Monteviejo winery lies in Vista Flores, Tunuyán, in the heart of the Uco Valley. The magnificent winery, on its 321-acre property, is nestled along the foot of the Andes Mountains, which provides a scenic backdrop worthy of the quality and pedigree of the wines Monteviejo produces. The estate’s owners, the Péré Vergé family, and winemaker Marcelo Pelleriti, are devoted to making exceptional wines of power, elegance, and typicity that consistently garner top reviews and wine enthusiasts around the world. The winery is currently adapting their vineyard and winery practices to be 100% organic.
From the beginning, Monteviejo has operated the winery around gentle handling of the grapes. Harvest is manual. In the vineyards, low-production, high-quality French clones were chosen.
Winemaker, enologist and general manager, Marcelo Pelleriti, is renowned in the industry and has worked in both France and Argentina under the guide of his mentor, Michel Rolland. For more than 15 years, Marcelo has directed the harvests in Bordeaux for Château La Violette, Château Le Gay and Château Montviel, living in France between September and November every year since 2001. His expertise in these two distinct terroirs has helped him garner international renown for these exceptional wines. Marcelo consistently receives high ratings for his wines, often earning 95 points and above in both France and Argentina.
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.
With hundreds of red grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended red wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged resulting in a wide variety of red wine styles. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a red wine blend variety that creates a fruity and full-bodied wine would do well combined with one that is naturally high in acidity and tannins. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.
How to Serve Red Wine
A common piece of advice is to serve red wine at “room temperature,” but this suggestion is imprecise. After all, room temperature in January is likely to be quite different than in August, even considering the possible effect of central heating and air conditioning systems. The proper temperature to aim for is 55° F to 60° F for lighter-bodied reds and 60° F to 65° F for fuller-bodied wines.
How Long Does Red Wine Last?
Once opened and re-corked, a bottle stored in a cool, dark environment (like your fridge) will stay fresh and nicely drinkable for a day or two. There are products available that can extend that period by a couple of days. As for unopened bottles, optimal storage means keeping them on their sides in a moderately humid environment at about 57° F. Red wines stored in this manner will stay good – and possibly improve – for anywhere from one year to multiple decades. Assessing how long to hold on to a bottle is a complicated science. If you are planning long-term storage of your reds, seek the advice of a wine professional.