Malbec ‘Cuarto Dominio’

Winemaker

Andres Blanchard & Javier Catena

Appellation

Uco Valley

Varieties

Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot

Viticulture

Cuarto Dominio is the expression of two very small, and different, lots in the San Carlos vineyard at 900 meters over sea level. The difference beteween the two parcels is in the soil composition. Lot A (2 hectares) contains 70% sand, 15% limestone, and 15% clay while Lot B (1.4 hectares) contains 90% sand, 10% limestone, and many surface stones. The average age of vines here is 45 years old, with a planting density of 6000 plants per hectare.

Terroir

Sand, limeston, and clay

Ratings & Reviews

Vineyard

La Consulta Vineyard, Chento Vineyard

Vinification

The grapes are hand-harvested when they reach the proper ripeness level. Then, the wine goes through a pre-fermentation maceration to preserve primary aromas. A series of delestages and pumpovers take place during fermentation for a more balanced extraction. The juice is fermented for about 15 days at low temperatures and it is followed by a post fermentation maceration.

Aging

The wine is aged for 24 months in 100% new French oak barrels of 225 liters.