Matias Riccitelli & Father 2023

Drink it now or cellar for up to 20 years. It is recommended to decant it for an hour. Matias Riccitelli is a famous Argentine winemaker who, after years of traveling, founded his winery in 2009 in Las Compuertas, Mendoza. Son of Jorge Riccitelli, one of the country's most renowned winemakers, Matias decided to collaborate with his father to produce this extraordinary wine, symbolizing the coming together of two generations and their shared passion for viticulture. Matias Riccitelli & Father is a blend of Malbec and Cabernet Franc. The Malbec grapes come from Las Compuertas, in Luján de Cuyo. Here, the vines, planted at 1,000 meters above sea level in 1927, are rooted in clayey, alluvial soils. The Cabernet Franc grapes come from Los Chacayes in the Uco Valley. The cool microclimate of this area ensures slow ripening and a slow, full development of the grape's aromatic potential. Finally, low yields favor the production of a highly concentrated wine. After fermentation with indigenous yeasts at a controlled temperature, the finished wine ages for 16 months in 2,000-liter oak vats. In the glass, the wine reveals an intense ruby color and a broad, energetic aromatic profile with notes of dark fruits such as blackberry and cassis, followed by floral hints of violet and nuances of spices and pepper. On the palate, it is concentrated and mature, soft and well-structured with smooth tannins and a long finish that recalls the aromas perceived on the nose. Try it with herb-roasted lamb or rib-eye steak.