Dona Paula Estate Malbec 2016
The Dona Paula Malbec is a very different wine to the Paula Malbec. Both red wines are from the Dona Paula winery but the Estate Malbec is made to show the maximum expression of this grape variety. The Paula Malbec is a more feminine version and is made for everyday drinking. The Dona Paula Malbec is an intense red wine with a dark brooding colour and filled with equally dark flavours of plums, black cherries, sweet fruit and a sligh herbaceous finish.
Dona Paula was established in 1997 and began exporting to the Netherlands, the UK, and the US in 2002. The estate winery currently owns 703 hectares of vineyards throughout Mendoza in the foothills of the Andes. They have been perfecting their Malbec since their establishment, beginning with their first vineyard in Ugarteche. It has utilised sustainable agriculture and organic practises throughout its tenure. Dona Paula wines have won a number of awards against other Argentinian wineries and gained status among professional wine tasters for their superior wines. It has benefited from an increase in demand from the US, Europe, and around the world for Argentinian wines. Exports to the US alone tripled between 2002 and 2006. Dona Paula wines meet the elusive ideals of terroir, variety, and lower production costs, allowing them to produce sustainable estate wines and offer them at a wonderful value to their customers.
Vinification
Carefully and gentle desteming with partial berry crushing to provide fresh berry aromas. Cool pre-fermentation maceration for 2 weeks to extract primary aromas, flavors and intense color under non-alcoholic phase. First part of the fermentation takes place under wild yeast culture and is finished inoculating selected yeast. Fermented at 25C, keeping the freshness the wine is after racked to new, second and third use French barrels (33% of each one) where the wine is aged during 8 months before being bottled.
Viticulture
The Finca El Alton vineyard was planted between 1967 and 2007. Adult vines are trellised in the double spur pruned cordon method. The vines are planted with a medium to high density from 1,852 vines per hectare to 3,636 vines per hectare.
Tasting Note
The Dona Paula Malbec has an intense violet colour with aromas of plums, black cherries, liquorice and dried herbs . Sweet, round and generous in the mouth with a lingering finish.
Everyday Serving Suggestion
Always serve with Argentine steak for the maximum pleasure.
Awards
Wine Spectator 90 Points
Country / Region / Appellation
AR / Mendoza / Ugarteche
Winemaker
David Bonomi
Additional Resources:
http://www.donapaula.com/