Vela Selva 2023 Malbec Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina
Curated from the best regions, vineyards and vintages, the Fine Wine Collection is meant to celebrate winemaking at its finest. This wine represents our commitment to excellence, to exploration and to you.
Vela Selva 2023 Malbec Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina
Vintage The overall weather throughout 2023 was warm and dry. After a spring frost reduced yields, the remaining grapes enjoyed extra attention, soaking up the sunshine 3600 feet above sea level. These 40-year-old Malbec vines are grown in sandy-loam soils that retain the sun’s heat, emphasizing ripe fruit characteristics. Come fall, another excellent growing season came to a close as harvest was carried out by hand in the cool hours of the morning.
Region Argentina’s Uco Valley is a small sub-region of Mendoza and the crown jewel of Malbec wines. The region boasts soaring elevations, glowing sunlight, ancient alluvial soils, and natural irrigation thanks to snowmelt from the Andes Mountains. This unique combination of elements makes it the ideal sanctuary for Argentina’s most prized grape variety, crafting concentrated, fruit-driven expressions that captivate and delight wine lovers worldwide.
Tasting notes Our Malbec is the type of wine you almost want to take a bite out of. It is smooth and robust with richly concentrated aromas and flavors. Blackberry and violet aromas on the nose mingle with toasty, oak-driven characteristics. The palate is full-bodied and powerful. Ripe plum, pepper, nutmeg, and cacao notes add even more layers to your tasting experience, creating a warming sensation that lingers between sips.
Aromas and flavors blackberry, plum, violet, cacao, pepper, nutmeg, oak
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Pairing logic Our rich and velvety Malbec is perfect for special occasions. Pair it with juicy char-grilled red meats like ribeye or lamb chops for a romantic date night, complementing the wine’s sturdy tannins and peppery spice. Explore vegetarian options with big flavors and textures, like roasted mushrooms, eggplant, legume stews, or cheesy pasta. Enhance the wine’s deep, dark fruit notes with balsamic glazes, or embrace its toasty, oaky character by grilling with cedar planks or using a smoker.
Menu suggestions • Blackberry-glazed tofu with black pepper and chile • Spaghetti with roasted garlic, olives and fresh-grated parmesan • Brown rice and lentil casserole • Chilean “carbonada” beef stew • Roast leg of lamb with rosemary balsamic glaze • Smoked ribeye with garlic butter
Serving instructions Temperature: Room temperature (60–65°F) Decanting time: 45 minutes Glassware: Bordeaux glass
Winemaking At the winery, the grapes are sorted to select the highest quality. Before fermentation, they are crushed and cold-soaked in stainless steel tanks for two days before fermentation begins. Daily pump-overs throughout the following two weeks keep the grape skins in contact with the juice, extracting as much flavor, texture and color as possible. The wine is then transferred to concrete tanks, allowing everything to integrate and settle before oak adds the finishing touch.
Spotlight Cellar • Grape skin contact enhances the wine’s flavors, tannins and color. • Oak contact adds complexity and flavor while softening tannins.
Vineyard • Low yields increase grape’s flavor concentration and complexity.
• Harvesting in cool temperatures preserves acidity and delicate aromas and flavors.
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