Bodega Norton Lote Negro 2021
$45.00 USD
Description
How To Say It
Vino Joe Says...
Description
Lote Negro is the representation of the Valle de Uco and its terroir. High elevation — 1100M to 1300M above sea level — and cool micro climates bring out the intense
aromatics, acidity, and structure in both Cabernet Franc and Malbec. One of winemaker David Bonomi’s passion projects, Lote Negro is a distinct and expressive wine in the Norton range.
How To Say It
NOR-tun LOW-tay NEH-grow
Vino Joe Says...
This may be one of the best-kept secrets in Argentina, and a ridiculous bargain. It happens to be winemaker David Bonomi’s favorite wine, which is saying something considering that he makes dozens every year.
About the wine
REGION: Argentina | Uco Valley
GRAPES: 60% Malbec, 40% Cabernet Franc
PH: 3.55
ACIDITY: 6.3 g/L
ABV: 14.7%
AGING: Aged 12 months in second-use French oak barrels and 12 months in bottle.
GRAPES: 60% Malbec, 40% Cabernet Franc
PH: 3.55
ACIDITY: 6.3 g/L
ABV: 14.7%
AGING: Aged 12 months in second-use French oak barrels and 12 months in bottle.
Deep red with dark hints of ruby, Lote Negro melds blackberry and raspberry aromas which open to back plum while subtle notes of baking spice and mint linger on the palate. This wine has great structure, intense fruit and elegant acidity.
Robust foods, such as beef, game, and other hearty meat dishes or strong cheeses. Try with venison or rabbit stew, herb-marinated lamb chops or strong cheeses, such as aged Gruyère or Roquefort.
Manual harvest in 150kg cases, hand-selected berries. Cold maceration for 5 days at 10 degrees C in concrete vats, followed by 10-day fermentation between 24 and 26 degrees C. Maceration for 30 days, 100% malolactic fermentation.
This wine can be cellared and enjoyed over the next ten years.
The 2021 harvest produced quality grapes. This harvest was filled with cold weather and lot of rain. These conditions allowed for low
pH, with good maturity.
What The Critics Say...
I found a lot more elegance, freshness and integration of oak in the 2021 Lote Negro than in the 2020 that I tasted next to it. The Malbec comes from Los Chacayes and the Cabernet Franc from Altamira, both IGs in the Valle de Uco. It’s still ripe and powerful, with around 14.7% alcohol, and it has abundant tannins that might require some more time.
Rating: 93+
Norton is in the top five of exporting wineries from Argentina, together with Trapiche, Catena, Trivento and Zuccardi. They own 720 hectares of vineyards in Mendoza, in Luján de Cuyo, Maipú and Medrano and work with 2,000+ growers to produce a total of 26 million bottles. With this volume, there are always some new labels. They are one of the few wineries that have kept old vintages in good condition, as the winery dates back to 1895.
Luis Gutiérrez, Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate