El Montanista 2022 Calingasta Valley 'Viejas Tintas'

When immigrants from Italy first came to the San Juan province in Argentina in the 19th and early 20th Centuries, many brought grape varieties from their homeland. Co-planted in the Paraje Hilario vineyard that Nuria and Pancho farm are many Piemontese varieties, some of which you barely see in Piedmont wines nowadays! The list includes Barbera, Bonarda, Greco Nero, Rabosso Veronese, Cardin, and Freisa. Style-wise, the flavors and profile are of a bold red, but the goal was to maintain lift and retain acidity, which keeps the wine balanced while simultaneously rich and forward. 

"Tech notes" from Ben Fletcher: The grapes were harvested by hand in 15kg baskets, then crushed in the same baskets before depositing with the whole clusters in concrete, where they fermented without temperature control for 14-21 days. After fermentation, gently pressed with a 200kg vertical screw press, then rested on the lees in concrete tanks for 7 months.