| Bodega Renacer Producer websiteBodega Renacer Enamorehttp://passionatefoodie.blogspot.com/2011/05/bodega-renacer-enamored-with-enamore.html
Bodega Renacer is a relatively new winery in Argentina, having been established in 2002, and has a Chilean pedigree. The family which owns the winery is from Chile, and had worked in a Chilean winery but one which emphasized quantity over quality. In time, they chose to move to Mendoza, to create their own winery where they could produce more quality-driven wines. Their name, Renacer, means "rebirth."
The winery is located in Perdriel, in the foothills of the Andes, and it is stunningly beautiful with an incredible view of the mountains. For wine productuion, they use state of the art Italian technology, with both stainless steel and cement, with epoxy, tanks. They produce mainly Malbec-based wines, purchasing about 60% of their grapes they use, thus allowing them to sample numerous terroirs, including Uco Valley, Lujan de Cuyo and Medrano. They own about 29 hectares of Malbec vineyards. One of the vineyards they lease originated in 1918, and these old vines end up in their highest quality wines. Each year, they produce about 100,000 cases of wine. It is interesting to note that their Malbecs are almost never 100% Malbec, but usually have a tiny percentage of some other grape added. The winery is also a pioneer in the use of precision viticulture, which attempts to maximize vineyard quality by measuring local variation with science and technology. They have worked with Pedro Parra, the famous Chilean soil scientist, to help determine the nature of their soil and terroir, using tools such as sonar. This leads to the creation of detailed vineyard maps, so that the winery can best understand where specific grapes will be the best.
Bodega Renacer has three levels of Malbec, including their entry level, Reserva and Gran Reserva. In general, they are big, tannic wines, the type you need to drink with a thick, juicy steak. They also generally have lots of black fruit flavors with plenty of spice.
The Enamore though, surpasses those.When Marilisa Allegrini visited the Mendoza region, she felt that it possessed the perfect condition to produce Amarone, so Bodega Renacer, in collaboration with Allegrini Winery, decided to give it a try. Their first vintage was 2006. For Amarone, a process called appassimento is used, where grapes are dried out, traditionally on straw mats, for about three months. The grapes lose both water and malic acid, while there is an intense concentration of flavors and sugars. To make Enamore, the grapes are also allowed to dry out on straw mats, as pictured above. Due to the climate in Mendoza though, the drying process only takes about three weeks.
The name of the wine, Enamore, means "to be in love" and, cleverly, it is also an anagram for Amarone. On the label, the red string near the top represents Italy, the Old World, while the orange string at the bottom represents Argentina, the New World. Both strings then meet at the "M" which stands for Mendoza, where the two wineries came together. Approximately 5,000 cases are produced each year, with about 60% being exported to the U.S. and 20% to Italy. This is probably the only Amarone style wine produced anywhere in Argentina.
The Enamore ($30) is a blend of 62% Malbec, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc, 9% Bonarda, and 4% Syrah, though the blend may vary year from year. It spends about one year in new French oak and has an alcohol content of 14.5%. This wine captivated me from my first taste. Though it is a big wine, with strong tannins, it has a silky and hedonistic backbone which I found especially alluring. The taste was complex, with a melange of ripe plum, dried raisens, chocolate notes, dusty spice, and more. The lengthy, pleasing finish seduced my tastebuds, beckoning me like a siren to seek more of this velvety wine. The Enamore would pair well with steak, lamb, and other hearty dishes. Malbec BlendCordiscoArgentina Wines of Argentina
Argentina has been making wine since the 1500s, tracing its wine heritage back to Spain, France and, perhaps surprisingly, Italy. Italian immigration is second only to Spanish in Argentine culture, and the flavors of Italy show up strongly in the nation’s wine, food and cultural tradition. Historically, Argentina has kept much of its wine consumption at home, drinking most of the wine it makes. But we are now seeing more very serious Argentine wines north of the border, and Malbec is leading the movement. The wine-making region in Argentina ranges between the 22° and 42° South latitude. It spreads at the foothills of the Andean mountain range along over 2,400 km; from the province of Salta to the province of Río Negro, with a variety of climates and soils that makes each region a unique land. In general terms, the areas dedicated to vine cultivation are dry and arid with a low level of rain and humidity, determining factor as regards grape health. Abundant sunny days and thermal amplitude favor a good maturity and concentration of aroma and color in the grain. Soils are deep, permeable and poor in organic matter, decisive qualities at the time of obtaining good wine. Due to the low rain regime, irrigation is necessary. Water comes from the Andean range thaw, descending in the shape of rivers to become channels or ditches. Undoubtedly, the combination of these factors turns Argentina into a veritable oasis for the highest quality wine-making. Nevertheless, there is still a long way to go. Wine-making in Argentina, at the level that it achieves today, has a young history that goes back to a little more than 10 years ago. Technological progress, investment and some farsighted businessmen enabled a determining transformation. The province of Mendoza is the most traditional area in the viticultural industry, and is diverse enough to be divided into zones, according to their significantly different weather, height and soil characteristics. These include the Northern Zone, which is suitable for fruity whites and young reds, at a height from 600 to 700m; the Eastern Zone, with a height ranging from 600 to 700m, and the most productive zone in the province; the Uco Valley, a zone of colder weather and higher altitudes (between 800 and 1,400m over sea level); San Rafael, with heights ranging from 450 to 800m; and the High Zone of the Mendoza River, with heights ranging from 800 to 1,100m over sea level and various microclimates, this is the zone where almost all noble varieties have easily become adapted. It is a region that is remarkably well-suited to vine culture, protected from the Pacific’s cooling influence by the Andes and enjoying a long summer of cool nights and warm days, with a dry summer climate but plenty of water available from the region’s rivers. Malbec in particular is outstanding from this area, and it has clearly emerged as the star, the darling of both consumers and critics.Mendoza Wines of Mendoza |
