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Finca Decero

Malbec 2018

Agrelo, Mendoza, Argentina

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Finca Decero has become recognized not only for having one of the highest quality vineyards in all of Mendoza, but also for catapulting into an elite group of the most highly regarded producers in Argentina. The wines all come from the single Finca Decero vineyard, and the winery’s focus is entirely quality focused. This wine showcases the powerful but polished side of Argentine Malbec: remarkable fruit, structure and distinct floral notes.

VINEYARD

Finca Decero and the estate’s single vineyard is located at 3500ft in the Agrelo sub-appellation of Luján de Cuyo in the north western part of the province of Mendoza. Remolinos Vineyard derives its name from the little whirlwind spiral formations of soil which form in the afternoon as the gentle wind lifts the dry soil from the paths of the vineyard into swaying ‘dust devils’.

Altitude plays and critical role in quality of Finca Decero’s wines as it reduces night-time temperatures which is key to preserving the natural acidity in the grapes. This natural acidity plays an important role in the aging potential of the wines (allowing the wines to age with grace over a long period of time), but also in the natural freshness/crispness and hallmark elegance of Finca Decero wines. In addition, grapes grown at higher altitudes absorb more ultraviolet light. This has a significant impact on the phenol content of the grape skins as they thicken to protect from UV absorption. As such, grapes grown at higher altitude, as at Finca Decero, produce wines of enhanced texture and intensity of color.

Finca Decero has a unique tapestry of soils which is unmatched in other areas of Agrelo. From the beginning, the winery has done extensive soil profiling to make planting decisions and in 2015, overseen by wine terroir consultant Pedro Parra Ph.D, has further investigated the micro-differences affecting each individual vine. Remolinos Vineyard is the converging point in Agrelo of two different soil formations: alluvial and colluvial soils. The vineyard also uniquely has very high levels of calcium carbonate dissolved in the silt deposits interlaced through these soil types across the vineyard. It is this dissolved calcium carbonate and silt that give Decero wines their hallmark silky palate feel for which they are renown.

WINEMAKING

The clusters are selected on a sorting table prior to destemming, and individual berries are selected on a sorting table after destemming. The must underwent a 5-7 day cold soak, followed by 10 days of fermentation in small wide stainless steel tanks (at lower temperatures for aromatic parcels, 78 degrees versus 86 degrees for parcels with greater concentration) and finally, a 15-18 day extended maceration period. The wine was gently basket pressed before going into French oak barrels (30% new) for malolactic fermentation and 14 months maturation. 10% of the wine remains in the tank to preserve the delicate violet aromatics.

VINTAGE

2018 was a stellar vintage in Argentina. Following a spring frost which diminished the overall crop, the summer was warm and dry leading to an extremely healthy grapes with excellent phenolic ripeness. The wines of this vintage show extremely high quality with a richer concentration than previous vintages yet with good balance between body and structure.

TASTING NOTE

2018 Decero Malbec continues in the style that characterizes our Remolinos Vineyard displaying intense violet aromas over a core of red fruits with notes of cherries and raspberries. Slightly richer in body than the previous vintage yet still very well balanced wine with fresh acidity, it shows supple and elegant tannins that benefit from 14 months maturation in French oak barrels.

Color

Red

Grape Varieties

Malbec

Appellation

Agrelo, Mendoza, Argentina

Farming

Sustainable. Minimal machinery is used – there are no tractors in the vineyards, and all fruit is hand-picked and gravity fed in the winery. Sprays are minimal and at organic levels, irrigation is drip, and all water at the winery is re-used. The winery encourages natural biodiversity, such as lechuza owls which prey on vine pests.

Alcohol

14.5%

Suggested Retail Price

$22.00

Reviews

93

"Refined tension and beauty"

James Suckling - February 18, 2021 "A tight, focused red with dark-plum and hazelnut character. Citrus, too. Medium to full body. Bright finish. Shows refined tension and beauty."

90

"Fleshy and filled with tannic power"

Wine Spectator - March 11, 2021 "Offers dark cherry and plum flavors that are fleshy and filled with tannic power. Minerally midpalate, with a finish that is loaded with baker's chocolate accents."

91

"Simply delicious"

Wine Advocate - April 1, 2021

"I find a very nicely crafted and harmonious wine in the 2018 Malbec Remolinos Vineyard, a red with a fruit-driven nose full of violets, berries, good freshness and elegance. The palate is very balanced and fresh with no edges. It is simply delicious."

 

93

"Blueberry, black tea, sage"

Decanter - June 21, 2022 "Assertive nose of cinnamon, blueberry, black tea, sage and waxy nuances. Well-resolved tannins supported by a nice core of fruit and a peppery finish."

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Finca Decero Malbec Bottle Shot

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The Owl & The Dust Devil Cabernet Sauvignon

Agrelo, Mendoza, Argentina

The Owl & The Dust Devil Malbec

Agrelo, Mendoza, Argentina

This wine is a single varietal Malbec which exhibits richness of fruit in the mid palate whilst maintaining an overall elegance in style which is the hallmark of its origin, the high altitude Remolinos Vineyard.

Mini Ediciones Cabernet Franc

Agrelo, Mendoza, Argentina

Finca Decero's Mini Ediciones Cabernet Franc is one of the winery's three "rare varieties & limited edition" wines. The wine shows nuances of bell pepper, graphite and plum notes with fresh aromatics and taunt acidity resulting in a well-structured Cabernet Franc with great potential for aging.

Cabernet Sauvignon

Agrelo is recognized for red varieties and while it has been acknowledged for its high-quality Malbec it has also become known as the source of some of the finest Cabernet Sauvignon emanating from Argentina. The wine has a beautiful, full-bodied structure that comes across effortlessly due to the hallmark Decero refinement.

Mini Ediciones Petit Verdot

As the name suggests, Mini Ediciones are highly limited parcels of wine. From lesser known varieties, these wines are wholly expressive of the Remolinos Vineyard and represent an opportunity to taste a variety rarely seen in a pure form. In 2006, in recognition of its unique potential from the coarse, low vigor soils of our Remolinos Vineyard, the winery first selected a few exceptional barrels of wine to make a well-deserved Decero Mini Ediciones Petit Verdot.

Amano

Decero Amano takes its name from the “Amano” or “by hand” approach. As the pinnacle of the winery's achievements each vintage, Decero Amano is a blend of the most distinctive parcels from the Remolinos Vineyard. The wine is a blend of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Tannat: violet aromas emanate from the Malbec, red fruit flavors and structure of the Cabernet gives excellent length, while the jasmine perfumed Petit Verdot brings firm tannins as does the Tannat, which adds even more textural complexity.

The Owl & The Dust Devil Icon Blend

The Owl & The Dust Devil Icon Blend represents the wild side of Finca Decero, an exceptionally expressive and intense red blend that has as its core some of the specialties of Finca Decero. Its impact on the palate is matched by its groundbreaking Virtual Reality packaging.