Adelante 'La Consulta Vineyard Old Vines' Malbec, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina 2022

Founded by Ray Kaufman, a California winemaker with over 40 years of experience including 23 vintages at Laurel Glen Vineyard in Sonoma. In 2007, Kaufman purchased the Don Eugenio vineyard—a historic 17-acre site planted in 1946 by Italian immigrant Eugenio Gioachini. The vineyard had fallen into neglect, with grapes being sold off to local co-ops for blending. Kaufman sought to preserve these old, self-rooted vines and produce Argentina's first single-vineyard Malbec from La Consulta, releasing the inaugural Adelante vintage in 2012. The name "Adelante" translates to "moving forward," reflecting the mission to revitalize and honor this nearly forgotten historic planting while producing elegant, terroir-driven Malbec.

• WINEMAKER: Marcos Gimenez Riili (at Bodega Gimenez Riili)
• FARMING: Sustainable viticulture transitioning to fully organic, following latest organic principles. Traditional flood irrigation from the Tunuyan River (pure Andes mountain water). Combination of Guyot and Cordon trellising. Green harvesting to control yields. Hand-harvested with emphasis on quality over quantity. Vineyard manager Diego (former vineyard manager at Achaval-Ferrer).
• VARIETY: 100% Malbec from original 1946 clone
• TERROIR: Don Eugenio vineyard in La Consulta, Valle de Uco—one of the coolest, highest elevation regions in Mendoza at 3,000 feet. Alluvial sand and clay soils over deep strata of river rock. Proximity to Tunuyan River provides excellent drainage, allowing deep root growth. 76-year-old self-rooted vines still on original rootstock. Vineyard divided into three sections (north, center, south) with varying soil composition. Extremely low yields of 2.5 tons per acre.
• VINIFICATION: Three-day cold soak. Native yeast fermentation in cement tanks. Spontaneous natural malolactic fermentation. No SO2 added until after malolactic completion. Small lot fermentation.
• AGING: French oak barrels (20% new, 80% older barrels). Light filtration. Low sulfite additions.
• TASTING NOTES: Bold blueberry fruit accented with minerality, earth, spice. Red and blue fruits, pomegranate, violet notes. Fresh, lively with ample acid, structure, and body. Grippy tannins linger on the finish.
• FOOD PAIRINGS: Grilled steak, ribeye, burgers, BBQ, roasted red meats, braised dishes.