BS La Cayetana El Corazon Manda 2022

El Corazon Manda Malbec 2022

La Cayetana

Ver Sacrum Winemaker Eduardo Soler says this is the purest and most elegant expression of Malbec he has ever seen and we’re not going not argue! La Cayetana is Ver Sacrum’s sister project, and this magnificent wine has Eduardo in the driver’s seat as winemaker.

The vineyard is located in Pampa El Cepillo at 1,050 masl at the cold, southernmost tip of the Uco Valley. The vines are ungrafted and more than 70 years old, growing on a gentle south-facing plain composed of river stones, sand and consolidated calcium carbonate.

20% of the fruit is whole cluster on a long cold soak; with fermentation for 25 days in 1,000 litre untoasted French oak foudres. The wine is then matured in the same oak for 12 months followed by 8 months in bottle before release. Only 3,597 bottles produced.

You almost need to forget about Malbec entirely when tasting this. We all know how far the variety has come in the last two decades, capable of producing exceptionally fine, elegant wines that bear no resemblance to the ‘fruit-bombs’ of old. This Malbec is simply one of the finest red wines from Argentina that we have ever tasted. It also happens to be a Malbec. The fruit purity is utterly divine and there is a lean, ‘boney’ texture that tightropes the border between austerity and luxury with grace. A magnificent example of winemaking that respects the vineyard above all else.

96 points – Outstanding in Decanter Magazine May 2024 (2022 vintage)