Uco Deus, Malbec, Uco Valley, Argentina
Uco Deus, Malbec, Uco Valley, Argentina
Kernowine is the exclusive importer of Uco Deus' wines into the UK - please email del@kernowine.co.uk for more information
Wine Type: Red
Grape(s): 100% Malbec
Country: Argentina
Region: Paraje Altamira, Uco Valley
Organic: Yes
Vegan: Yes
ABV: 14%
Winemaking: Uco Deus, founded in 1970, make traditional amphora-aged natural wines. Wines are estate bottled and they only use estate grown grapes, which are hand picked at 1,300m. They have a bottle manufacturing facility on premise.
Uco Deus use 3,300 litre concrete eggs and clay Italian amphorae, fed from open concrete tanks and cold fermentation is solely carried out with indigenous yeasts.The concrete allows for natural micro-oxygenation that softens the tannins and adds volume to the mouth, maintaining the wine's purity and freshness. Unlike oak, it doesn't add flavour; it reveals the flavour of the terroir.
The benefits of using amphorae:
- Minimal chemical intervention. The amphorae allow them to limit inputs to the maximum - the heart of their biodynamic approach
- Gentle winemaking. Delicate extraction that respects the fruit at every stage.
- Purity of expression. Varieties and terroir preserved without alteration - with great aromatic richness
- Thermal inertia. Stable and cool temperature inside the vessel: the wine evolves slowly and develops fresh and fruity aromas
-
Brownian motion. The shape of the amphora keeps the particles in constant suspension, extracting complexity, roundness, and unctuousness
The grapes for this wine go through a prolonged maceration at a low temperature, aged in 872 gallon concrete eggs for 8 months. fermentation has carried out with indigenous yeasts in open concrete pools.
Soils: The combination of calcium carbonate-rich, alluvial soils at this elevation is unique to Uco Valley. Uco Deus can make fresh, mineral-driven, high energy wines there - totally different from the fruity, formulaic Malbecs that people associate with Mendoza. Altamira features heavier soils than Gualtallary, with loads of silt and calcium carbonate and some very large rocks (which makes planting vineyards costly and difficult). Wines there tend to be fuller-bodied with dark fruit and herbs; Malbec - by far the district’s star grape - shows power and concentration with fresh acidity. The calcareous soils there force vines deeper and add structure, which the Malbec variety can often lack.
Tasting Notes: This Malbec has fresh red fruit, violets, soft spices and mineral notes. Broad, juicy and persistent on the palate.
The label: "Hilario, faithful worker, of good character and kind smile. Its mission is to nurture and give life to the farm, carrying water through each of its nooks and crannies. Working under the sun, his shoes and his hat are your allies every day."
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