Bodegas Piedra Negra Chacayes 2017

Cellar for up to 15 years. No need to decant before serving.

Fifth generation Bordeaux winemaker Francois Lurton first started making wines in South America in the 1990s, and in 1996 he and his brother purchased some 200 acres in a remote corner of Mendoza’s Uco Valley. At the time the valley was considered a barren desert-like region and some thought him a little crazy to start making wine here. Fast forward a few decades and the Uco Valley is now the source of many of Mendoza’s most famous bottles, including Francois’s very own Chacayes.

This iconic bottling now has its very own namesake appellation, IG Chacayes, thanks to the unique terroir here which combines altitudes of 1050-1350 metres with poor alluvial soils and minimal rainfall. These conditions help to produce intensely concentrated and aromatic grapes which reach perfect ripeness. To maintain quality the Malbec fruit is carefully harvested by hand and sorted twice before vinification.

Part of the fermentation takes place in 400 litre French oak barrels to add extra complexity, and the young wine is matured in new French oak for 24 months. This extensive maturation helps to soften the tannins and add gentle spiced notes to the succulent dark fruit. The result is a dark and handsome Malbec that exudes charm and is very easy to drink. Pair with a fine steak served with fries for an authentic Argentinian experience.