| DON MIGUEL GASCON |
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| Wines from ARGENTINA |
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| Don Miguel Gascon Malbec Don Miguel Gascón Malbec hails from Mendoza, a mountainous province at the foot of the Andes Mountains, along the western edge of Argentina. Regarded as the most important wine producing province in Argentina, Mendoza accounts for more than 80% of Argentine winemaking. By selecting grapes from vineyards at varying elevations throughout Mendoza’s high valleys, our winemakers achieve superb balance in the finished wine. The high altitude places the vineyards under intense sunlight, which translates into fruit with extraordinary flavor and aromatic expressions. Tasting Notes Don Miguel Gascón Malbec is a full bodied wine with a deep violet color, showcasing flavors and aromas of blackberry, blueberry, plum, dark cherry, and a hint of mocha. The wine is elegant and rich in texture, with soft, round tannins and a long velvety finish. Gascón Malbec pairs well with grilled red meats, wild game, pasta dishes and chocolate molten dessert. |
| Winemaker Notes The 2008 growing season in Mendoza began with a warmer than usual Spring, but temperatures dropped during flowering. The cooler weather conditions resulted in smaller berry set than usual naturally decreasing the yield on Malbec. The exceptionally dry summer, plus the low amount of fruit per plant, caused the physiological ripening of sugars to accelerate but the phenological ripening of polyphenols to slow down. Consequently, veraison occurred 7 – 10 days later than normal in most areas. In late January, some precipitation moved in which lowered temperatures and brought the physiological and phenological ripening processes back into synchronization. The month of February saw rather unstable weather throughout the region, with some isolated thunder and hail storms. The isolated nature of the precipitation meant that each vineyard received several light to medium rains throughout the month. The extremely low yields, combined with well drained soils, meant that there were very few growing issues in the vineyards. March did not receive as much precipitation as February but did experience a consistent drop in temperatures. As the grapes entered into the last month of ripening, the conditions were excellent for an outstanding vintage. Both February and March saw lower than normal temperatures, allowing for even ripening and longer hang times. The fruit also maintained excellent levels of natural acidity, lending freshness and vibrancy to the grapes. The month of April was dry and very cool. The grapes continued to develop very nicely and had exceptional levels of concentration and complexity during harvest. By the second week of April, a completely abnormal frost accelerated the leaf falling of the plants, allowing the last vineyards of the Uco Valley in Mendozato concentrate even more before harvest. The grapes were harvested by hand in the early morning hours, then underwent cold maceration for four days at temperatures not exceeding 10°C (50°F) to achieve optimum extraction of the deep purple, violet berries. Maceration prior to fermentation also aids in the development of black fruit varietal aromas in the finished wine. To preserve the fruit flavors, primary fermentation occurred at around 28°C (82°F). Varietal Content: 100% Malbec Varietal Origin: Lujan and Uco Valley, Mendoza Titratable Acidity: 0.51g/100ml pH: 3.75 Alcohol Level: 13.9% Residual Sugar: 0.36g/100ml Oak Aging: 7 months American and French Oak |
| Don Miguel Gascon Malbec |