Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine & Spirits
Brothers Hector and Pablo Durigutti began making wine in Mendoza in 2002, and acquired their first vineyard in 2007. This wine is a regional blend of malbec (with small amounts of syrah, petit verdot, bonarda and cabernets sauvignon and franc) that began fermentation in concrete egg, finishing malolactic fermentation in new French oak. Bottle age makes it feel sleek and polished, with some earthy, herbal flavors showing through in the velvety finish. Jonathan Eichholz of NYC’s The Modern found it perfectly balanced to please an entire party: “It’s a nonmalbec drinker’s malbec, but also a malbec drinker’s malbec.”
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.
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.