Grape Variety: 100% Malbec

Growing Region: Agrelo (Lujan de Cuyo), Mendoza, Argentina

Consultant Winemaker: Alberto Antonini

TASTING NOTE:
Chakana wines make me smile even before I open the bottle, the packaging, the people behind the wine and the culture that influences these wines - put my taste buds at the ready - for what I know will be a fruit driven, early drinking wine with a little bit of the x-factor in each glass. This entire 'estate' range offers a wide variety of young wines with a short period of ageing in oak. These wines are specially designed to be enjoyed within a few years of being released.

100% Malbec, the fruit was handpicked and sourced from 35 year old vines grown in Mendoza. Picked at perfect ripeness, this wine went through 4 days of maceration to extract the natural soft tannins, then 10 days of fermentation at relatively mild temperatures for red wine production to extract the deep purple colours that fill the glass. Post fermentation 10% of the wine had 3 months development in American oak.

On the nose, the wine reveals ripe plums, sweet strawberries, fine spices and dried flowers that meld beautifully together. All these notes follow through onto the palate; where the rich fruit characters give an excellent mouth feel and finishes with velvety tannins.

CELLARING POTENTIAL:
Drinking perfectly well this season; and over the next 3-4 years.

SUGGESTED FOOD MATCHES:
Perfect wine match with Tapas, BBQ'd meats and homemade pizza - enjoy.

Silver - NZ International Wine Awards 2010.