Cara Sur 2022 Pergolas Criollas Tintas

A fascinating light red blend of red Criolla varietals (70% Cereza, 20% Criolla Chica, 5% Canela, & 5% Moscatel Tinto) from the San Juan valley north of Mendoza at over 5000 ft altitude! Cara Sur, meaning "South Face", references the difficult climb of one of Argentina's tallest peaks, Cerro Mercedario, that lurks above the winery.  A collaboration between two couples, this wine is the result of purchased fruit from small family vineyards, sometimes with only 4 or 5 parral vines. With a desert like climate with huge diurnal shifts, the vines are trained on pergolas/parrals to protect the grapes from the intense sun at this high altitude. The grapes are hand harvested, destemmed and fermented with indigenous yeasts. Aged for seven months in concrete tanks, neutral oak barrels, and 50 liter demijohns on the lees; unfined & unfiltered. Very pale red, with a very soft, cherry like profile and tannins. An ideal warm weather picnic wine meant to be drunk, like on the label, under the pergola! GH