Manos Negras, Stone Soil Select Malbec

Medicinal and ripe on the nose, deep and inviting. Silky texture with a racy flash of acidity on the finish. Excellent plum fruit, herbal hints and wonderful structure with fig flavours on the long, grippy 12 months in oak, finish.

Gentle de-stemming and cold maceration for 6 days at 8°C. Whole berry fermentation with natural yeasts and max. temp. 18° C. Extensive pumping over, punching down for first 10 days of fermentation. Total fermentation time of 18 days.

Sourced from the Altmira district of the San Carlos county, located in the southern Uco Valley at an elevation of 4,000 feet. Altamira has Mendoza’s most unique soil profile, with a patchwork of sandy, silty and stony soils all present in the same vineyard. The stony soils contain a high content of surface stones – round rocks that are literally painted white with calcium carbonate. These patches of stony soil are very low in organic material and very high in mineral content. Their poor profile naturally brings down yields for exceptional concentration of aromas and flavours.

Tim Atkin Argentina Report 2021 91 Points
The evocatively named Stone Soil Malbec is all made with fruit from Paraje Altamira and is a co-fermentation with Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Chalky, deeply coloured and showing some pepper and clove spice notes from 40% whole clusters, it’s smooth, yet refreshing with svelte tannins and supporting acidity. 91 Points, TA, May 2021.