March 2

Mar 2 Pulenta and Porsches!

We drop over the ridge into the verdant green valley over the mostly dry river valley first to Pulento. Two brothers run this place. They also own Porsche. You get a free case of wine when you buy one. In the cellar are three engines, 2 Porsche, one Ferrari, the last from a real Formula1 car!! The males are mesmerized by the engines of course! production is gravity fed, the winery having been purposebuilt. Premium vines are planted east to west for best sun exposure. Alluvial soil, 300+ sunny days and 20% humidity guarantee best production. Seismic tremors are felt daily as we are on the fire belt here. Weather, temperatures are stable but they have distinct seasons.

  The view of snow capped Mt. Tupungato at 680m are breathtaking. The influence of early Jesuits and Roman history are embedded here.

  Water police are very powerful.Without water rights, you don’t have anything and they are fiercely protected here. 

  There are basically 5 wine valleys in the area, oases in the arid area with loan 2” deep.

  It’s a huge rich agricultural area, with fruit trees, olive groves, fruit and vegetables among the vast acres of manicured and carefully tended vines.

  Our very able guide Connie shows us the concrete and steel fermenters, describes the micro vilification and testing to create new products that go on in the modern lab and vineyard. Barrels are used 8-10 years, some shorter and wines lie happily there at 16-18 degrees to come to their prime. They are constantly adding humidity to the area to keep it at 60-70%. they harvest at 18-24 bird.

  AT 980m this vineyard produces 60% of the grapes they use.

  Finally we taste! We try a 2016 Malbec, jammy and plummy. Then a Grand Cab.Franc 2014 which Ted declares the best he’s tasted here in Argentina. From 35 year old vines, creamy and elegant apparently!

Finally a 2014 Grand Corte (blend of Malbec, Cab Franc, Merlot and Carignan.

  Malbecs come of course, from Argentina, Chile, France and S.Africa, volumes in that order.

  So is that enough info for today?