Bodega Antucura’s Winning Wines

 

Antucura, which means “Sun Stone”, according to the local ancient language Mapudungun, is a winery that was founded by Anne-Caroline Biancheri, in the Vista Flores area of Mendoza’s Uco Valley in the early 2000s. It was in this privileged area of incomparable beauty, framed by the Andes mountains, that Bodega Antucura produced its first wines in 2003 before launching them to the market in 2005.  Despite being a relatively young winery compared to some of the more established ones in the region, it has quickly gained global recognition for its commitment to producing high-quality wines in the Mendoza region. In fact, at the 2023 Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA), Bodega Antucura was awarded five medals, among them 1 gold, 2 silvers and 2 bronze, as well as gaining consistent high scores from Tim Atkin, James Suckling and Descorcados for their exceptional vintages. 

Nestled in the picturesque landscape of Mendoza, Argentina, the Antucura Winery stands as a testament to the region's rich winemaking heritage and commitment to producing world-class wines. Thanks to soil and temperature characteristics, Vista Flores, which is located in the Tunuyan sub-region of the Uco Valley, has been established as the new best area to produce fine grapes. Located at 3.445 feet above sea level, Bodega Antucura is a vineyard of 247 acres where the wine cellar rests on a bed of stones from glacial origin, with optimum conditions for its vines. The soil here comprises limestone from alluvial origin with gravel in the subsoil, originating from very rocky soil.

By respecting the terroir and using a combination of old traditions and new technologies, the bodega produces super and ultra premium wines under a strict quality control mechanism. The winemakers’ commitment to creating a great synergy between the terroirs' specific attributes and classic French vinification, results in wines with a sense of origin as well as elegance. Antucura Winery owns and operates several vineyards throughout the Uco Valley, each contributing unique characteristics to their wine portfolio. Among the most prominent vineyards under their care is the La Mariposa Vineyard, situated at an elevation of 3,000 feet above sea level and the Las Jarillas Vineyard, which sits at around 4,000 feet above sea level. 


The extreme altitudes of these vineyards brings an added layer of complexity to the grapes, resulting in wines with remarkable depth and structure. The hallmark of Bodega Antucura’s success lies in its ability to craft exceptional wines that capture the essence of the Uco Valley. Their diverse range of wines, each with its own unique, characteristic style, caters to a broad spectrum of vinophiles and includes Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Chardonnay and of course, Torrontés. Thursday Food introduces you to Bodega Antucura’s five medallists from the 2023 DWWA:


Antucura Single Vineyard Tani Cabernet Franc 2020 is a gold medal winning wine that is made up of 100% Cabernet Franc. In addition to winning gold, the wine also scored 95 points at the 2023 DWWA. It has an intense, bright ruby red colour with brick tones that is expressive and beautiful on the nose, offering aromas of a leafy freshness, along with elegant notes of green bell pepper and ripe cherries. The wine has soft, well resolved tannins, a good centre in the mouth, a long finish and great balance with a wood that is very well amalgamated with the fruit.


Antucura Pukara Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that scored 90 points and earned a silver medal at the 2023 DWWA. This wine, in addition to having a savoury and earthy character, has red tones with great intensity that offers complex, brambly aromas of spices, black pepper and a perfect balance between fresh fruit and French oak. In the mouth, it has a friendly entrance with fruit intensity, a large volume, nice structure, wrapping tannins and a warm finish.


Antucura Single Vineyard Yepún Malbec 2020, which also won silver at the 2023 DWWA after scoring 92 points, is a 100% varietal that has a vividly vibrant red colour with bright violet reflections. Along with a traditional nose of cedar wood, fresh blueberry and elegant spices, it is also intense, expressing aromas of ripe red fruits as well as notes of toasted bread. On the palate its entrance is friendly, smooth, chewy and opulent with round, fine-grained dense tannins, a gravelly minerality and a well-integrated contribution from the barrel, ending in a finish that is long, unctuous in addition to having good acidity.


Antucura Blend Selection 2018, a red blend comprising 34% Merlot, 33% Malbec and 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, won a bronze medal after scoring 86 points at the 2023 DWWA. It has an intense red colour and offers very delicate, mixed aromas of red plums, dark cherries, coffee beans and tea leaves, as well as oak barrel notes of chocolate and spices. On the palate, the wine is smooth yet dry on entry, has a good structure, is balanced, with a long, warm finish that has touches of caramel and vanilla.


Antucura Grand Vin 2018, which also won bronze and scored 86 points at the 2023 DWWA, is another blend that is made up of 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Malbec. This red blend has an intense, bright and deep red colour with violet reflections that offers aromas that are fruit forward on the nose. The aromas perceived are notes of cedar, toast, hints of meaty nuances as well as ripe red and black fruits with vanilla. In the mouth it has a filling, silky mouthfeel with a lot of persistence mixing ripe fruit with the elegance of wood that is both harmonious and balanced.


Antucura Winery also boasts a charming restaurant that pairs its wines with delectable Argentine cuisine and offers accommodation at Casa Antucura. Salud!





CREDITS:
PUBLISHED IN THE DAILY OBSERVER - THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 7, 2023.

ANDRE' WAYNE REID, A JAMAICAN IN ARGENTINA
NOVIA McDONALD-WHYTE, SENIOR ASSOCIATE EDITOR, LIFESTYLE & SOCIAL CONTENT
RORIE ATKINSON, ART DIRECTOR

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