Country: Argentina Region: Mendoza Varietal: Malbec Vintage: 2019 Colour: Red Style: Dry Producer: Finca Flichman PRODUCERThe winery was founded in 1910 by Polish immigrant Don SamiFlichman. He purchased property in Barrancas (southern Maipu)and planted vines in rocky, well-drained plots situated along theMendoza river. It was Sami’s son Isaac who first began to makefine wine at the estate, including Caballero de la Cepa, one ofthe first high-quality wines that garnered international awarenessfor premium Argentinian wines. Sogrape Vinhos purchased FincaFlichman in 1998, and invested heavily in restoring the vineyardsand modernising the winery. The original Barrancas vineyardremains among their 400 hectares of vines, which also includes thehigher altitude Tupungato vineyard. Today the wines are made byRogelio Rabino, who works closely with consultant and renownedwinemaker Alberto Antonini.VINEYARDSGrapes for the Caballero de la Cepa wines are picked from theBarrancas region in southern Maipu, Mendoza. The vines here areplanted in rocky, well-drained plots situated along the south sideof the Mendoza river. The vineyards sit at high altitudes - 1,100metres above sea level - meaning that there are largetemperature differences between day and night. This extends thegrowing season and helps to retain freshness and finesse in thewines.VINIFICATIONOn arrival to the winery, the hand-picked grapes underwent acold maceration for two days at 10°C. Fermentation lasted 12days at a controlled temperature of 25°C, and underwentmalolactic conversion. The wine was aged in second and third use French oak foudres (500 litres) for six months and spent afurther six months ageing in bottle.TASTING NOTESThis wine is ruby red in colour with blue hues. The aroma isperfumed and complex - a combination of violets, cherries andoak spice. On the palate, it is concentrated with blackberries, ripeplums and tobacco leaves. Sweet, ripe tannins balance the fruit.