Cara Sur Paraje Hilario Tinto 2023

Cara Sur Paraje Hilario Tinto 2023 Natural/Organic production from the Barreal Valley, San Juan, Argentina, the lesser known neighbour of Mendoza. Very close to the Andes, altitude at the vineyard is well in excess of 1500 metres. This altitude leads to big swings in day and night time temperatures allowing the grapes to ripen sufficiently with the cooling evening influence helping to retain the acidity required to make a lovely balanced wine.

The soils are sandy and alluvial with ungrafted vines that are 80 years old producing fewer but more concentrated grapes, which are farmed organically without any chemicals showing the true character of the terroir. The harvest is from a single vineyard usually the first week in March. Whole clusters are foot trodden and fermented in concrete eggs where they mature for 8 months.

The blend is mostly Bonarda and Barbera with some freisa, Cardin and Greco Nero (all Piemontese varietals). The wine has some earthy aromas with some mediterranean herbs, aniseed and fennel with a lovely juicy palate, lots of strawberries, cranberries and a touch of almond with finely grained soft tannins.