Description

ABOUT THE PRODUCER:
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. Since 2020, the vines have been certified organic. 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.

THE VINTAGE:
2019 saw outstanding quality in the Uco Valley region. 2019 saw a cool, damp spring, which warmed up into a dry, sunny summer with moderate temperatures. A long, slow ripening period meant the grapes did not ripen until the end of January, when the high temperatures remained stable. In February the mild climate returned, and the cool harvest allowed the grapes to build complexity and maturity with excellent balance. The 2019 wines show expressive aromatics and freshness due to the natural acidity.

ABOUT THE 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.

THE WINEMAKING PROCESS:
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 and aged for 12 to 18 months in new French oak barrels. It then received a minimum of eight months bottle ageing.

OUR TASTING NOTES:
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.

GRAPE VARIETY:
Malbec 100%.

AWARDS:
• 94 Points, Tim Atkin MW, 2023
• 91 Points, James Suckling, 2023