Winemaker Notes
100% hand-harvested Monastrell (Mourvèdre) from a single vineyard in the Los Chacayes IG within the Uco Valley. Fermented 100% whole-cluster with native yeasts, then aged 100% sur-lie in concrete for 6 months.
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2020 Monastrell from Los Chacayes, Uco Valley is purple in the glass. It has a slightly compact nose of pomegranate, elderflower and herbal hints. The 2020 delivers pure flavors with delicate, refined, polished tannins that lend grip and texture. An unusual wine in that it flirts with being full-bodied but actually has a light, sun-kissed character.
Full of ripe fruit, and robust, earthy goodness, Mourvèdre is actually of Spanish provenance, where it still goes by the name Monastrell or Mataro. It is better associated however, with the Red Blends of the Rhône, namely Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Mourvèdre shines on its own in Bandol and is popular both as a single varietal wine in blends in the New World regions of Australia, California and Washington. Somm Secret—While Mourvèdre has been in California for many years, it didn’t gain momentum until the 1980s when a group of California winemakers inspired by the wines of the Rhône Valley finally began to renew a focus on it.
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.