From: Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
Blend: Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Bonarda

Taste: This wine showcases a garnet red hue. The nose is richly adorned with the succulence of ripe red plums and fresh prunes, interwoven with the delicate sweetness of dried peaches and a medley of dried fruits. Layers of barrel-derived scents add depth and intrigue, featuring the warmth of tobacco, vanilla, and cedarwood's sturdy backbone.
Upon tasting, the palate starts with a well-balanced structure and acidity. The tannins are velvety. The palate is further rewarded with a generous volume and body, where cacao and dark chocolate notes meld with subtle hints of coffee, offering a lasting finish.

Pairing: For meats, consider pairing it with a grilled steak seasoned with rosemary and pepper, a succulent roast turkey with sage, a tender pork loin with a cumin and shallot rub, lamb chops with a hint of Cajun spice, or barbecued lamb that brings out the wine's deep fruit and barrel aromas.
Vegetable dishes that include earthy mushrooms, sweet roasted peppers, creamy potato gratin, rich eggplant parmesan, roasted squashes, or sautéed spinach with garlic, make for excellent companions to this wine.
In terms of cheeses, this wine pairs beautifully with the boldness of blue cheese, the sharpness of aged cheddar, the nuttiness of Manchego, and the creamy texture of asiago.

Cassoulet-Style Lamb Shanks and Beans
By David Tanis

About. Bodega Vistalba, located in the heart of Vistalba, Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina, was founded by Carlos Pulenta and reflects a rich family legacy in viticulture, dating back to the establishment of Bodega Peñaflor by his father, Don Antonio Pulenta, 80 years prior.

The winery, constructed between 2001 and 2004 on family-owned land, was developed by Carlos Pulenta with the help of family members, consultants, and enologists. It celebrates the Creole culture while incorporating modern technology to honor traditional winemaking practices.

Bodega Vistalba deeply celebrates Argentine Creole culture through its winemaking process and overall philosophy. Creole culture in Argentina is a blend of indigenous traditions and those brought by the Spanish colonizers, which has evolved over centuries into a unique and rich cultural tapestry. This culture is characterized by its unique customs, music, dance, and, significantly, its culinary traditions, where wine plays an integral part.

Bodega Vistalba integrates this cultural heritage into its operations by adhering to traditional winemaking methods while incorporating modern technology. The winery's design, which allows the entire winemaking process to be completed using gravity without the use of pumps, pays homage to the tradition of making wine with respect for the land and its fruits. This method not only reflects a commitment to preserving the authenticity and quality of their wines but also demonstrates a respect for the environment, echoing the Creole value of living in harmony with nature.

Moreover, the winery’s architecture and the way it blends into the landscape is a nod to Creole aesthetics, showcasing an elegant integration of natural and man-made elements. The involvement of Carlos Pulenta’s family in the winery, along with a team of consultants and enologists who are deeply knowledgeable about the land, mirrors the Creole emphasis on family and community.

Currently, their wines are distributed in over 20 countries. In 2009, Alejandro Bulgheroni began collaborating with Carlos Pulenta. Bulgheroni, known for his significant contributions and investments across the global wine industry, brought his expertise and resources to Bodega Vistalba, reinforcing its position in the market and its commitment to producing high-quality wines with a strong identity and personality. This partnership aligns with Bulgheroni's broader involvement in the wine industry, where he owns and operates several estates worldwide, focusing on sustainable practices and producing premium wines. His involvement with Bodega Vistalba highlights a shared vision between him and Pulenta: to create wines of world renown that showcase the unique characteristics and terroir of the Vistalba region. This collaboration has helped elevate Bodega Vistalba's international status, contributing to the winery's reputation for excellence and innovation within Argentina's wine industry.

The Vistalba collection from Bodega Vistalba in Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, is renowned for its exceptional blended wines, crafted primarily from Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Bonarda, and Cabernet Franc grapes. These wines are produced from grapes grown in the small plots of Finca Vistalba, situated in the esteemed wine region of Luján de Cuyo, particularly in Vistalba.

The vineyards of Finca Vistalba boast a distinctive terroir that significantly influences the quality and character of the wines produced. Positioned at an altitude of 980 meters above sea level, the vineyards benefit from a unique microclimate that contributes to the optimal ripening of grapes. This elevation ensures significant temperature variations between day and night, which is crucial for developing the complex flavors and aromas in the grapes.

The soil in this region is predominantly alluvial and sedimentary, with a heterogeneous, clay loam composition. This soil type is particularly beneficial for viticulture, as it retains moisture while providing sufficient drainage. The subsoil features boulders and offers good drainage, enabling vine roots to explore depths of three to four meters in search of minerals and nutrients. This deep-root exploration helps stabilize the vines and allows them to access a richer array of minerals, which is reflected in the depth and complexity of the wines produced.

The vineyard employs traditional viticultural practices, including trellis driving systems for supporting the vines, traditional furrow irrigation, and loader-based pruning methods. These practices ensure the health and vigor of the vines, contributing to the high quality of the fruit.

In addition to the grapevines, the estate also cultivates 1,200 olive trees, aged 80 years, of the Arauco, Nevadillo, Arbequina, Manzanilla, and Empeltre varieties. The olives from these trees produce the estate's olive oil, “CORTE V,” which embodies the terroir's distinct characteristics.

The meticulous attention to viticultural practices, combined with the unique terroir of the Vistalba estate, results in wines that are expressive of their origin. The Vistalba collection, focusing on blends and varietal expressions of Malbec, encapsulates the essence of Luján de Cuyo's prestigious winemaking tradition.

The Vistalba Corte B 2018 is a specific focus on the Vistalba sub-appellation. This blend is primarily composed of Malbec (65%), complemented by Cabernet Sauvignon (30%) and Bonarda (5%), each variety contributing its unique characteristics to create a harmonious and complex wine.

The vineyard's soil is predominantly alluvial, featuring a top layer of clay loam, beneath which lies a conglomerate rich in pebbles and covered by a layer of calcium carbonate. This composition is ideal for viticulture, as it ensures good drainage and allows the vines to root deeply in search of minerals, enhancing the grapes' flavor profile. Specifically, the Malbec grapes are sourced from blocks 3 and 4, where the topsoil reaches a depth of about 60 cm, whereas the Bonarda comes from block 2 with a shallower topsoil of approximately 40 cm. The Cabernet Sauvignon is harvested from block 7, which has a 40 cm depth but contains a higher percentage of clay than the other blocks.

Irrigation is managed through traditional surface furrows, which ensures that the water directly reaches the vine's roots, essential for sustaining the vineyard at its 995 meters above sea level. The vineyard practices sustainable management, avoiding herbicides and pesticides, and employs a canopy management strategy to optimize sunlight exposure and protect the grapes from direct solar radiation. The soils are traditionally tilled, and rye can grow between rows to promote soil health. Each grape variety—Malbec planted in 1948, Bonarda in 1948, and Cabernet Sauvignon in 1999—undergo double Guyot pruning, a testament to the estate's commitment to quality and tradition.

The grapes for the 2018 Corte B were harvested into 20-kilogram boxes. Harvest dates were as follows: Malbec in early April, Cabernet Sauvignon at the end of March, and Bonarda in mid-April. The winemaking process is traditional, with fermentation in epoxy-free cement vats. There was a three-day cold pre-fermentation maceration, with cap management achieved through pump-overs and punch-downs. Fermentation temperature was maintained at 25°C, and micro-vinifications were conducted in barrels. The wine was aged in 35 hl foudres, 225-liter barrels, and 500-liter French oak demi-muids for 15 months, with 30% of the barrels being new.