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Gualtallary Matias Riccitelli Viñedos de Montaña Vielles Vigne franc de pied Malbec 2020
14%
0.75L
Intensity
The old Malbec vines, often non-grafted and located on high-altitude slopes, create the concentrated and luscious flavours of this cuvée, offering a harmonious blend of spicy and chocolatey notes.
More infoThis red wine, crafted by Matias Riccitelli, stems from the renowned Mendoza wine region in Argentina, celebrated for its high-quality Malbec wines. The history of the region dates back to the 19th century, when European immigrants introduced French grape varieties, transforming the Argentinian wine landscape. The Mendoza terroir, characterised by alluvial soils and a continental climate, plays a pivotal role in shaping the expression of this wine. The vines, planted on high-altitude slopes, benefit from excellent drainage and optimal sun exposure, which allows for slow and even ripening of the grapes. The winemaking process begins with a hand harvest, followed by fermentation at a controlled temperature. The wine is then aged in French oak barrels, with a significant portion of new oak, for 12 to 14 months.
The wine displays a deep, intense red colour. The nose reveals aromas of ripe black fruits, such as blackberry, cherry, and plum, complemented by hints of spices and chocolate. The palate is rich and velvety, with well-integrated tannins and a pleasing, long finish.
Lot presentation
Gualtallary Matias Riccitelli Viñedos de Montaña Vielles Vigne franc de pied Malbec 2020
The wine
This red wine, crafted by Matias Riccitelli, stems from the renowned Mendoza wine region in Argentina, celebrated for its high-quality Malbec wines. The history of the region dates back to the 19th century, when European immigrants introduced French grape varieties, transforming the Argentinian wine landscape. The Mendoza terroir, characterised by alluvial soils and a continental climate, plays a pivotal role in shaping the expression of this wine. The vines, planted on high-altitude slopes, benefit from excellent drainage and optimal sun exposure, which allows for slow and even ripening of the grapes. The winemaking process begins with a hand harvest, followed by fermentation at a controlled temperature. The wine is then aged in French oak barrels, with a significant portion of new oak, for 12 to 14 months.
The wine displays a deep, intense red colour. The nose reveals aromas of ripe black fruits, such as blackberry, cherry, and plum, complemented by hints of spices and chocolate. The palate is rich and velvety, with well-integrated tannins and a pleasing, long finish.
About the Producer Matias Riccitelli
His eponymous estate lies high up in the Luján de Cuyo appellation. Son of Jorge Riccitelli and named Winemaker of the Year by Wine Enthusiast in 2012, Matías now leads this 20-hectare estate, crafting elegant, refined wines from vines rooted between 900 and 1800 metres above sea level. While Malbec naturally features at the core of his range, Riccitelli excels just as brilliantly with Bonarda, Torrontés, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay.
“My generation has a real advantage: the development of high-altitude viticulture, which didn’t exist before,” he once told our importer. It is precisely this new frontier that Riccitelli and his contemporaries are mastering, taming the sharp diurnal shifts, the cooling winds, and the unique climate of the Andes to produce wines of exceptional finesse and distinction.
A bet that paid off! The estate produced balanced, fresh and harmonious wines, crafted without herbicides with responsible methods. Gravity, concrete vats, amphorae, egg-shaped vats and a judicious use of oak barriques. Matías is also something of a visionary, expanding his horizons with a new estate in Patagonia, a state-of-the-art winery, and a restaurant project. An estate to keep a close eye on, without a doubt.
