BRONZE MEDAL - Decanter World Wine Awards 2010

Finca El Alto is the largest single vineyard malbec estate in the Luján de Cuyo region in Argentina, with 197 hectares (487 acres) planted between 1969 and 1975.

Most of the production comes from adult vines trellised in double spur pruned cordon at medium to high vine density (1852 to 3636 vines per hectare).

Clay soils produce great structure in the wines and this is the aim of this Estate malbec: richness, elegance, balance and bright fresh fruit aromas, all of them, capable of expressing the Upper Mendoza river´s sense of place.

At Doña Paula the vineyards and wines have always been managed using Sustainable Agriculture practices.Careful and gentle desteming with partial berry crushing provides the fresh red berry aromas.Cool pre-fermentation maceration is undertaken for 2 weeks to extract primary aromas, flavours and the intense colour under a non-alcoholic phase.

Region:     Finca El Alto, Ugarteche, Luján de Cuyo, Argentina

Varietals:  Malbec 100% 

Maker:      David Bononi

Alcohol:    14.1% by vol.

Acidity:     6,00 g/l (tartaric acid)

Sugar:      2,19 g/l

pH:            3.64

Notes:      Intense violet colour, plums, black cherries, licorice and dried herbs basket aromas in the nose. Sweet, round and ample in the mouth with a lingering finish.