Durigutti, Proyecto Las Compuertas Cabernet Franc

Las Compuertas is the Western region of Lujan de Cuyo in Mendoza, at 1,050m above sea level where the climate is cooler, it has diversity of soils and traditional viticulture methods that have continued to be used over the century. Since 2007, the Durigutti brothers have been recovering and revitalizing the history and the traditions of an emblematic wine region of Lujan de Cuyo: Las Compuertas. From 5 hectares to 25 in total today, they aspire to develop, along with other local producers who maintain their vineyards with pride, the stewardship to offset the encroaching urbanization.

This wine is absolutely delicious and represents a new wave of Argentinian wines – not oaky, fruit bombs, but refined, elegant and immensely drinkable. The wine has raspberries, blueberries and violets. The palate is vibrant and fresh.

Variety: 100% Cabernet Franc

Origin: Finca Victoria, Las Compuertas, Mendoza

Vineyard Sumary: Organic vineyard planted in 2015 at 1,050m, 9,200 plants per hectare. Low trellis system. With crop, double guyot prunning, mantle irrigation. Sandy loam with deep boulder.

Harvest: Manual in boxes of 18kg, second week of April 2018.

Winemaking Sumary: Cold maceration during 3 days at 7*C. Alcoholic fermentation with indigenous yeasts during during 20 days at 22-25*C in cement eggs without epoxy with 3 daily pissonages. Malolactic fermentation in concrete eggs for 25 days.

Aging: 9 months in cement eggs.

Annual Production: 4890 bottles

93 points - JamesJuckling.com

95 points - Tim Atkins MW, Masters of Wine Report 2021