Andeluna 'Pasionado', Uco Valley, Malbec (1x75cl)

Ripe aromas of blackberry jam and dark chocolate with intense flavours and beautiful integration of fine elegance through to a very long finish. A powerhouse of a Malbec.

Producer Note
Founded in 2003, Andeluna produces premium mountain wines from their 70 hectare vineyard situated at an elevation of 1,300 metres in the rocky terroir of Gualtallary, Tupungato in the Uco Valley, Mendoza. By night, the moon can be seen illuminating the magnificent Andes Mountains nearby and the winery has been named after this stunning scene. The vineyard is managed using sustainable practices and in 2015 the entire vineyard was soil mapped with cultivation methods adapted accordingly. Winemaker, Manuel Gonzalez (previously Head Winemaker at Pulenta Estate and Chief Oenologist at Trivento) works alongside Andeluna's wine consultant Hans Vinding Diers, together they use minimal intervention to create outstanding wines which have propelled this producer into the global spotlight in a very short space of time.

Vintage
The best Malbecs have a refinement and elegance that only occur in very cool years. A warm winter was followed by a perfectly cool summer and between 10 to 50 per cent more rain than usual in the early autumn harvest months. In the Andeluna vineyards, the sloped stony soils and phenomenal drainage allowed the rain to have a mostly destressing effect on the vines, resulting in an incredible balance of flavours. The Malbec in parcels with stony and limestone soils were undisputed superstars. Due to the warm winter, the harvest was between 10 and 15 days earlier than usual.

Vineyard
The grapes come from the vineyard located in Tupungato, which is situated at an altitude of 1,300 metres above sea level. The area is characterised by its great diurnal temperature swings, which encourages aromatic expression and a great intensity of colour in the wine. The vines are irrigated by a drip-water system that regulates and supplies the exact amount of water that the plant needs. Grown in soils which are predominantly alluvial and sandy, the vines undergo strict canopy management in order to reduce the yields.

Winemaking
Manually harvested at dawn, in April when the grapes had reached full phenolic maturity, they were carefully selected by hand, to ensure no green material or imperfect fruit entered the must. Pre-fermentation maceration took place to extract a rich colour, prior to temperature controlled fermentation. Post-fermentation maceration lasted for approximately 10 days to further extract colour, flavour and fine tannins. When this was complete, the wine was racked. It was aged for 12 to 18 months in new French oak barrels and received a minimum of eight months bottle ageing.

Tasting Note
Complex aromas of ripe red fruits and sweet ​notes of violet are complemented by delicate hints of vanilla, tobacco and a touch of chocolate. A structured, full bodied and aromatic wine, enhanced by rounded sweet tannins and a long-lasting ​finish.

Winemaker:
Manuel Gonzalez Mendoza Valle de Uco Argentina

Awards
93 Pts, Tim Atkin, 2018
90 Pts, James Suckling, 2018

Region:
Alcohol: 14.5%
Body Value:Residual Sugar: Contains Sulphites: Vegetarian/Vegan: Milk/Eggs: Organic/Biodynamic Code: E (A is light, E is full bodied)