Salta is not as well known as some of the other wine regions in Argentina, and is located in the extreme north of the country. The majority of vineyards in the region are in the mountains with some vineyards climbing 9840 feet above the sea. The proximity to the equator is very similar to Alice Springs in Australia. Salta has an alluvial soil that is quite similar to the wine region of Mendoza. Because of the mountains, Salta has low rainfall levels with clear skies nearly all year round. The mountains provide irrigation to the vineyards sending the snowmelt flowing over the region. The meso climate is also quite helpful with summer temperatures reaching nearly 100° during the day and 55° at night. The viticulture of the region dates back to the early Spaniards and was known as having one productive epicenter, located in the Calchaquies Valley. The most prominent varieties of red wine include Malbec, Merlot, Tannat, and Cabernet Sauvignon, with Chardonnay and Torrontes accounting for Salta’s most respected and white wines. Cafayate and Molinos are Salta's key wine-growing areas. Cafayate has won recognition for its Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Torrontes wines in particular.
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Michel Rolland, Pomerol vintner and consultant to many of the world's top wineries, teamed with Washington State wine visionary Allen Shoup to produce this limited release wine.
With its intense color and inviting aromas of dark berries, licorice, baking spice and a hint of smoke, the Pedestal is a bold wine that leaves a lasting impression. Dark fruit flavors integrated with sweetness from the barrel and richness from the tannins come together seamlessly, lingering across a structured mid-palate and lengthy finish.
Winemaking: Hand-harvested grapes were double-sorted to remove green material that might impart harsh tannins, then most of the lots were cold soaked to build richness and flavor before undergoing whole-berry fermentation in 55L upright French wood tanks. This, combined with gentle pump-overs throughout fermentation, enhanced the wine’s color, texture and mouthfeel. The finished wine was aged 22 months in 85% new French oak barrels.
Review:
"I loved the 2014 Pedestal Merlot and it’s 81% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot. It offers a downright voluptuous and incredibly sexy style in its ripe black currants, toasted spice, chocolate and licorice aromas and flavors. Broad, expansive, layered and pleasure bent, with ripe tannin, it's a knockout Merlot that's going to have 10-15 years of drinkability. - Jeb Dunnuck"
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue #231, June 2017), 95 pts
Avennia Cabernet Franc Champoux Vineyard is made from 100% Cabernet Franc.
This very limited bottling shows the compelling potential of Cabernet Franc from a top vineyard. Though it’s often used as a spice in Avennia's Bordeaux blends, this wine, from the legendary Champoux Vineyard, has its own unique character and complexity that convinced them to feature it alone.
Review:
A stellar Cabernet Franc. Gorgeous, effusive aromas of roasted hatch pepper, smoked sea salt, dried violets and candied red fruit. The palate is nicely integrated but will knit together further with time. Red-fruited and full with pomegranate molasses, tart cherries and savoury notes of smoky sage. Beautiful.
- 96 points, Decanter