Description:
Mendoza is a mountainous province at the foot of the Andes Mountains along the western edge of Argentina. Responsible for crafting more than 80 percent of Argentine wine, Mendoza is regarded as the most important wine producing region in the country. Mendoza’s high valleys, which rest at different elevations with different temperatures, sustain a multitude of mesoclimates. The high altitude allows for intense sunlight, which produces fruit with thicker skins. The thick skins on the grapes deliver extraordinary color, body, aroma and structure, creating unique flavors and aromatic expressions in the finished wine.
Viticulture Notes:
We selected the grapes for our 2012 Colosal from esteemed vineyards in the Uco Valley and Agrelo regions. The 2013 vintage in Mendoza began with a cooler growing season that led to wines with heightened acidity, lower sugar levels and intense aromatics. Harvest was delayed about a week due to the cooler weather, and as a result, the yields in Mendoza were up for the first time in three years. With excellent acidity and tannins, the wines of 2013 produced from Mendoza grapes will offer an enjoyable taste immediately and after years of aging.
Winemaking Notes:
The grapes for Colosal Red Blend were hand-selected, crushed and then cold soaked for three to four days to maximize color and flavor extraction. The juice remained in contact with the skins for up to three weeks throughout the fermentation process to foster optimal flavor development. We fermented the lots separately in upright conical tanks for six days at a maximum temperature of 85°F before blending. This wine underwent malolactic fermentation to create a more textured mouthfeel. A majority of the wine was aged for 15 months in a combination of medium-toasted French and American oak barriques.
Varietal Content:
61% Malbec
16% Bonarda
13% Syrah
10% Cabernet Sauvignon
Titratable Acidity: 0.57g/100ml
pH: 3.79
Alcohol Level: 13.5%
Residual Sugar: .24g/100ml