Malbec Vistaflores Terroir Series 2019 – Kaiken

To produce the Malbec Vistaflores Terroir Series Kaiken, the fruit was hand harvested and then further hand sorted at the winery to ensure that only the most pristine bunches made it into the wine. After pressing, the must was fermented in small concrete tanks at a controlled temperature of 27ºC for seven days, followed by post-fermentation maceration for approximately 20 days. The wine was aged for 10 months in French oak barrels, one third of which were new, prior to bottling. It was then aged in bottle for a further three months prior to release.

Grapes are sourced from two regions in Mendoza – the Malbec and Petit Verdot come from Kaiken’s own vineyards in Vista Flores while the Bonarda grapes come from Agrelo. Located at high altitudes ranging from 950 – 1,350 metres above sea level, these sites are renowned for producing high-quality fruit displaying pure varietal characteristics.

Kaikenes are wild geese, native to Patagonia, that fly across the Andes between Chile and Argentina. In the same way, Montes, the Chilean winery, crossed the Andes to set up in Mendoza. Their vineyards are situated in the heart of Mendoza and further to the south in Valle de Uco, where many of the premium producers are now sourcing their fruit. The focus is primarily on Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon, a variety that has been somewhat forgotten as Malbec has surfed one wave of success after another in the past decade. As a result, there are many old vineyards in Mendoza that produce excellent fruit. Kaiken’s own vineyards supply 70% of their production requirements and 30% is from vineyards that they control.