Sylvestra Malbec 2019

Named for the former Ranch owned by Butch Cassidy and the sundance Kid.

Cholila Ranch Malbec is made from 100% Malbec. The estate-grown grapes are manually harvested, carefully sorted, and destemmed. The wine undergoes traditional maceration for 21 days with selected yeasts. Cholila Ranch Malbec is aged both in American and French oak for 9 months, followed by a minimum of 6 months bottle aging prior to release.

Deep purple color. Aromas of ripe plum and mulberry with violet hints. Ripe black fruits and fig on the palate with touches of smoke and vanilla. A truly powerful yet balanced wine with a persistent finish.

Viejo Isaias Malbec Clasico is made from 100 percent Malbec.

Time in oak: 40% in American (first and second use) oak barrels for 8 months. Time in bottles: 6 months minimum storage before placing on the market.

Vessels: stainless steel tanks. Alcoholic fermentation: controlled, with selected yeast. skin contact maceration: 20 days.. Malolactic fermentation: 100%

Excellent when paired with red meats, pasta with spicy sauces, matured cheeses.

Vibrantly red, with blue and purple glints. It has complex aromas of plum and ripe fruit, evoking dry fig. In the mouth, it is velvety, long, with a rich aftertaste, full of fine, sweet, ripe tannins.

Vineyard information:
Location: Perdriel, Luján de Cuyo, on the highest area of the Mendoza river - Mendoza.
Altitude: 950m above sea level.
Soil: sandy.
Year of plantation: 2000
Plant density per hectare: 3500
Wine production per plant: two 750cc bottles, approximately.
Yield: 80 qq/ht.

Review:

"A soft, easy red with cranberry and blueberry aromas and flavors. Medium body, light tannins and a fresh finish. Drink now."
- James Suckling (April 2020), 90 pts

4 Gatos Locos Malbec is made from 100% Malbec.

4 gatos locos is a project created by Gabriel Bloise, Facundo Bonamaizon, Mariana and Juan Pelizzatti, winemaker, viticulturist and founders of Chakana (respectively), and it is based on a 20 ha vineyard in Alto Gualtallary, the most prominent growing region in Argentina.
 
The vineyard is located at 1360 mts a.s.l on a 10% slope on the Sierra del Jaboncillo, a relatively old geological formation near the alluvial fan of the Las Tunas river, in the Tupungato area, in north western Valle de Uco. The long exposure to arid conditions of calcium rich gravel has allowed microbes to develop one of the areas richest in calcium carbonate in Mendoza. The altitude, the slope, the gravel and the calcium carbonate create unique deep, textured wines which have become distinctive of this area. Moderate high temperatures controlled by high altitude in sunny conditions produce perfectly ripe grapes of unusually intense color and great vitality, balanced by the mineral freshness of calcium carbonate. Local aromátic plants naturally occurring in native vegetation areas interspersed in the vineyard give the wine a unique herbal touch that underline the character of the place.
 
4 Gatos locos is packaged with 4 different labels, reflecting the different personalities of the partners in this project. In an industry dominated by narcissistic efforts of self promotion and luxury, 4 gatos locos (a popular frase in argentina to represent “nobodies”) represents an authentic collective effort to develop outstanding wine that captures the personality and the potential of a place, which we strongly believe it is the best Mendoza has to offer.

Residual sugar: <1,8 g/lPh: 3,8
Acidity: 5,7 g/l
Aged in new french oak 500 liter barrels and 5000 liter foudre for 18 months. Then aged for 12 months in bottle.
Fermented with natural yeast, macerated for 28 days.

Review:

"Made with fruit from ten-year-old vines in Gualtallary on soils with a high calcium carbonate content, this new wine is spicy and highly perfumed, with notes of rosemary and oregano, dense, compact tannins and a firm, chiselled finish. 2022-30"

- Tim Atkin (Argentina 2019 Special Report), 93 pts

Lima Vinho Verde Rose is made from 75% Souzao, 15% Borraçal and 10% Espadeiro.

It is a blend of 75% Souzao (same as Vinhao), 15% Borraçal (which is also known as Caino Tinto) and 10% Espadeiro:

Souzão (or Sousão or Vinhão) is a Portuguese wine grape that is used in the production of port wine. While originating in the Minho regions, it is used primarily in Australia, California and South Africa. In Portugal, it is also an authorized planting in the Douro, and Dão-Lafões area (Vinho do Dão). The grape is known for the deep color it produces in a wine as well as its coarse and raisiny taste.

Caiño tinto (also known as Borraçal) is a red Galician wine grape variety that is also grown in Portugal's Vinho Verde wine region where it is known as Borraçal. In Spain, it is a permitted variety in the Denominación de Origens (DOs) of Rías Baixas and Ribeiro where it produces highly perfumed wines with noticeable tartness and high acidity.

Espadeiro is a red Portuguese wine grape planted primarily in the Minho region for making Vinho Verde. It is also grown across the border, in Spain, in Galicia where it is used to make light bodied wines.

SonVida Malbec is made from 95% Malbec and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon

SonVida Malbec is a single vineyard wine, the supreme expression of the award-winning zone of Altamira, in Argentina's Uco Valley. Altamira's smooth tannins shine through, and the combination of acidity and minerality lead the wine to a long, integrated finish.

"The wine is proud to be ripe and generous. Aromas dominated by smokey mulberry and blueberry. It's plush and coats the palate with bramble, blueberry and liquorice and the scent of vanilla. Immediately muscular and broad-shouldered in the glass, with a savory note, perhaps tapenade, running through the dense palate with mint and dried herbs on the finish. The oak will integrate over time, mixing its spice with the warm spice of fruit. - Joe Fattorini - The Wine Show"

Sunny Summer with moderate nighttime temperatures, followed by an early Fall.
Grapes come from the Mendoza region, in the Paraje Altamira area.

YIELD: 35 Hl/HA
MACERATION: Total 25 days, first cold-soaked 5 days, 14 days fermentation at 24° C, plus 7 additional days. No filtration.

SonVida Malbec can be enjoyed on its own, and matches perfectly with meats, chicken, turkey and hard cheeses. It is enjoyed best in good company. ‘Would you like another glass?’ The answer, almost always, is ‘yes’.

Review:

"Former diplomat and journalist David Smith doesn’t make much wine, alas, but the quality is extremely good indeed. Subtle, refreshing and marked by the chalky terroir of Paraje Altamira, it’s a nuanced, skilfully oaked Malbec with precision, focus and impressive palate length. 2020-25"
- Tim Atkin, Argentina Special Report 2018), 93 pts

"A gorgeously rustic, complex wine packed with blossom, dark fruits and Christmas spices. Rich and satisfyingly rounded with soft tannins."- Decanter World Wine Awards 2018, 93 pts - SILVER MEDAL

"The 2015 Malbec has an old-world style in its balance, elegance and smoothness but with the chalky texture of the Altamira soils. It's very harmonious and young, as classic as it gets, medium-bodied and very drinkable. It has developed some extra complexity in the bottle and comes through as complex and layered. Terrific right now. 4,800 bottles were filled in 2017. - Luis Gutiérrez" - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue #245, October 2019), 92 pts

Sylvestra La Vie en Rosé Brut Nature Pinot Noir is a very elegant Sparkling wine, with hints of red rose and cherry aromas. This 100% Pinot Noir sparkling has a very elegant acidity and a great structure, combined with finesse from the grape varietal. The wine was fermented in bottle sur lees for 10 months, giving a more expressive wine with finer bubbles. 

Aged of the vines: 25 years
Soil is a mix of clay and sand.

Review:

"Released before the Brut Nature Royale, this all-Pinot Noir bubbly from Tunuyán is juicy, aromatic and just off dry with subtle raspberry and redcurrant flavours, tapering bubbles and an elegant finish. Very drinkable fizz. 2017-20."
- Tim Atkin (Argentina Special Report 2017), 92 pts