Kaiken Aventura Los Chacayes Sur Malbec, 2021

Kaiken Aventura Los Chacayes Sur Malbec – Premium Uco Valley Malbec

Deep red in colour with purple hues and aromas of plum, blackberries, strawberries and star anise. These qualities are carried through to the palate and, combined with a medium acidity, equate to a complex and juicy wine.

100% Malbec

14.5% Alcohol

Vegan, Vegetarian

Vineyards

The Kaiken Aventura range celebrates Kaiken's ongoing exploration of new sub-regions and their regional differences within Mendoza. Located in the heart of the Uco Valley, `Los Chacayes` was classified as a GI in 2017 (a 'Geographical Indication' signifys an area of particular quality). Kaiken planted vineyards here between 2011 and 2016 at 1,250m, the highest altitude of the region. This location provides a climate of warm summer days and cool nights, which helps to slow ripening and maintain a fresh acidity. The vines in `Los Chacayes Sur` sit on freedraining sandy-loam soils. This causes the roots to penetrate deep into the soil in order to access water and nutrients, which results in a more powerful depth of fruit concentration.

Vinification 

The grapes were hand harvested at the end of March before. undergoing manual selection at the winery. Pre-fermentation maceration took place for 4 days at 10ºC before a 7 day fermentation at 24ºC in concrete tanks, using selected and native yeasts. Post fermentation maceration lasted 20 days where malolactic fermentation occurred naturally in the concrete tanks. Ageing took place in concrete tanks for 12 months, then a further 6 months in bottle before release.

Kaiken

Kaikenes are wild geese, native to Patagonia, that fly across the Andes between Chile and Argentina. In the same way, legendary Chilean winemaker Aurelio Montes crossed the Andes to make wines in Mendoza. After several exploratory trips, Aurelio saw the enormous potential for premium viticulture in this region and founded the Kaiken winery in 2002. His aim is to make great wines in Mendoza and, in doing so, show the best of both sides of the Andes. His efforts have clearly yielded great results, with Kaiken named ‘New World Producer of the Year’ by the Sommelier Wine Awards in 2024. In addition, they have now achieved B-Corp certification, illustrating their commitment to both responsible and sustainable business practices.

Kaiken’s estate vineyards are planted in the heart of Mendoza and further south in the Uco Valley, where many premium producers are now sourcing fruit. Their focus is primarily on Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon, a variety once almost forgotten in the region. As a result of Kaiken’s protection, there are now several old vine Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards in Mendoza that produce excellent wines, including Kaiken’s vineyard in the Vistalba district of Luján de Cuyo, which was first planted in 1910.

Originally planting the variety in secret from his father, it was through experimentation that Aurelio Montes Junior discovered that the Uco Valley’s high-elevation vineyards were also well suited to growing Cabernet Franc. Aurelio Junior has pioneered this variety in Argentina and, together with a handful of other winemakers, has highlighted the country’s potential to produce top-quality Cabernet Franc. Kaiken’s ‘Obertura’ displays an intense and complex nose, with fresh redcurrants, plums and spicy notes of pepper and clove. The grapes for Kaiken’s traditional method sparkling wine are sourced from the renowned sub-region of Gualtallary, also in the Uco Valley. Here, limestone-rich soils and elevations of around 1,400 metres provide optimal conditions for growing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.