These 4 hectares of vineyard were planted in 1955. The vines are massale and ungrafted, which means that they are not cloned and that each one is different from the other. The vineyard is composed of 95% Malbec interplanted with 5% Merlot. It is irrigated up to 4 times a year by flooding, with water of maximum purity that comes from the Rio Negro, the soul of our valley. The vineyard does not receive any type of treatment, fumigation or sulfites and is certified organic.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE VINTAGE
Winter 2019 was short but very cold. Vetch and legumes were planted in average rows and we also added 10 tons of homemade organic compost to the other row. This considerably improves the texture of the soil and water retention during the hot and dry months.
In July, all of J.Alberto's vineyards, which cover only about 4.5 hectares, were pruned using a 4-stem Guyot pruning procedure.
We had some very light frosts with no significant impact on production in the spring months.
We mulched the vetch and legumes with the harrow and sowed fibers such as barley, wheat, and millet in the rows that had compost and applied preparation 500 (cow manure in horns transformed underground during the winter) to activate the microorganisms and balance the soil pH.
Flowering was good and setting as well, giving us good amounts of clusters per plant.
The weather was very calm during the months of October, November and December. In January there were some heat peaks but the nights remained very cold throughout the summer.
The harvest was done at the end of February with moderate alcohol levels and very good pH, no acidification was required, 30% of the bunches were whole and all without added sulfur. Few pump-overs and an early and energetic pressing to extract what remained in the whole bunches. Fermentation ended in stainless steel tanks, as did malolactic fermentation.
The aging process was carried out with very little sulfur, the wine was stored in cement eggs, 600L barrels and some single-use French barrels and stainless steel tanks for 9 months.
Producer: Bodega Noemia
Country: Argentina
Region: Patagonia
Varietal: Malbec, Merlot
Appellation: Alto Valle del Rio Negro
Size: 750ml
