Malbec Old Vines 2022, Adelante

These Malbec vines are 73 years old and grow upon their original root-stock, on beds of clay and alluvial soils within the Don Eugenio vineyard in La Consulta, Valle de Uco. The vineyard is 3,000 feet above sea level, and as one of Argentina's cooler grape growing regions, the wines produced are consistently able to hold onto their restraint and acidity. After harvest, the grapes undergo a three-day cold soak before native yeast fermentation and natural malolactic fermentation. Afterward, the grapes were pressed and aged in French oak, of which 20% is new.

Aromatically the Adelante Malbec is blue fruit-forward, with notes of warm, freshly baked blueberry pie, dried herbs, and hints of white chalk. The palate is beautifully structured, with ripe fruit flavors held tightly together with grippy tannins and acidity that promises longevity. 

About the Winery

Ray Kaufman, after having worked as a winemaker for Laurel Glen for over 20 vintages, dreamed of making a more delicate, perfumed style of Malbec from Argentina. Adelante, translating to "moving forward," began with the purchase of the Don Eugenio vineyard. The site, located in the La Consulta region of Valle de Uco, was planted back in 1946, and now at 73 years old the grapes still grow on their original roots. Prior to his purchase, the grapes growing on this vineyard were being broken up and sold off to be incorporated into blends. Kaufman wished to save the old, nearly forgotten vines within Argentina and worked tirelessly to revive these truly historic plantings by focusing on this single bottling. Since the first vintage in 2013, Adelante has continued to grow and achieve exactly what Kaufman dreamed to do.

The vineyard is in the process of being converted to completely organic. As a whole, the team implements minimal intervention in the vineyard. Once the grapes are harvested they ferment with native yeasts only, utilize natural occurring ML, and only add SO2 after ML is complete. All wines are made and bottled in Argentina and are then shipped to California.