For a limited time only, diners can enjoy the first vintage of Vina Patricia, produced by Gaucho’s own vineyard, Finca la Franca, in Mendoza.
Gaucho purchased the vineyard ten years ago in 2007, and the first release was in 2008. To celebrate this highly fruitful decade, 2008 Vina Patricia will be featured on Gaucho’s wine list across all restaurants, until stocks run out.
Described by Phil Crozier, Gaucho’s Director of Wines as coming from an outstanding vintage, Vina Patricia is an exceptional Malbec, produced in the old region of Lujan de Cuyo: “It has richness, elegance, power and lifted aromatics of violets and sweet spice,†says Crozier. The special 2008 vintage will be sold at the current list price for Vina Patricia, at £51.50.
About Vina Patricia
In 2007 Gaucho took the bold decision to buy a small vineyard in the ‘Zona Primera’ region of Luján de Cuyo in Mendoza, in a sub – region called Lunlunta. This name translates from the indigenous word for ‘song of the rolling stone’. The first vintage was 2008. The vineyard has its place amongst the very best of Argentina.
The vineyard was planted in 1929, in the Mendoza tradition, around the time that saw an immense number of immigrants descend on Argentina to find a good life, and in the heyday of its economic power. Olive trees at the end of vine rows, surrounded by cherry orchards and peach trees, Finca la Franca is the very essence of old world charm.
The vines are all Malbec, planted on their own roots and form a ‘massal’ selection. The vines cuttings were brought from various different nurseries so that the genetic material had a high degree of diversity.
These vines can be replaced using the same old vines in the vineyard by a technique called ‘mugron’ which involves taking the vine next to the dead vine, and placing one of the ‘arms’ of the plant into the soil, where it will grow its own root system. After three years, the arm is cut from the donor vine and stands alone in its own right.
The vineyard is also certified organic by Argencert, the national organic body of Argentina. Gaucho only uses goat ‘guano’ to add some fertility to the soils. The age of the vines means that yields are very low, with an average of one vine producing enough fruit for one bottle.
Gaucho engaged the services of winemaker Mauricio Lorca to make the wine, in collaboration with Phil Crozier, Gaucho’s Director of Wines. Mauricio has made every vintage since.
Gaucho decided to treat the ageing of the wine in four ways. A proportion without oak, to show the beauty and purity that these old vines bring to the blend. They then decided that the oak should be equal proportions of new (first use) oak, second use and third. In recent years some larger, 500lt barrels have been used so that the oak integration is more harmonious.