Finca Flichman Caballero de la Cepa, Mendoza Malbec Reserve
Vintage: 2023
| Vintage | Product Code | Format | Closure | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | FF312B23 | 6 x 75 | Screwcap | Contact Us |
Producer
Finca Flichman, in southern Maipú, Mendoza, is one of Argentina’s oldest and most prestigious wineries. It was founded in 1910 by Don Sami Flichman, who emigrated to Argentina from Łódz, Poland and established the estate's first vineyards on the rocky, well-drained plots within the town of Barrancas. In 1947, Don’s son Isaac and winemaker Raúl de la Mota created ‘Caballero de la Cepa’, one of the first premium Argentinian wines to have international success. Today, winemaking is overseen by Rogelio Rabino, supported by acclaimed consultant and winemaker Alberto Antonini, as well as renowned soil and vineyard mapping expert Pedro Parra.
Sogrape, owned by the Guedes family, purchased Finca Flichman in 1998, investing heavily in restoring the vineyards and modernising the winery. In addition to the original Barrancas vineyard, they also expanded to the higher elevations of Tupungato in the Uco Valley in Mendoza. At the foot of the Andes, these vineyards benefit from large diurnal temperature variations, resulting in longer ripening seasons and more elegant styles.
Caballero de la Cepa
The legendary ’Caballero de la Cepa’, first made in 1947, raised the bar for winemakers across the country and is widely recognised as one of Argentina’s first premium wines. The Malbec for this accomplished wine is sourced from Barrancas's rocky, well-drained vineyards. It displays elegant violets, black plums and cocoa aromas and has soft tannins and bright acidity.
Vineyards
Grapes for the Caballero de la Cepa wines are picked from the Barrancas region in southern Maipú, Mendoza. The vines here are over 50 years old and planted in rocky, well-drained plots situated along the south side of the Mendoza river. The vineyards sit at high altitudes of up to 760 metres above sea level, meaning that there are large temperature differences between day and night. This extends the growing season and helps to retain freshness and finesse in the wines.
Vintage
The 2023 vintage began with a very cold spring with late frost, followed by a very hot and dry summer, resulting in the loss of yields. The high temperatures throughout summer accelerated the ripening process and the harvest was one of the shortest on record.
Vinification
On arrival at the winery, the hand-picked grapes underwent a cold fermentation for two days at 10°C. Fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks at 28°C, with regular open and closed pump overs performed. After 12 days, the wine underwent malolactic conversion. The wine was then aged in used French oak barrels for 12 months and spent a further three months ageing in bottle before release.
Tasting Notes & Technical Details
This wine is ruby red in colour with violet hues. The aroma is perfumed and complex - a combination of violets, cherries and eucalyptus. On the palate, it is concentrated with blackberries, ripe plums and tobacco leaves. Sweet, ripe tannins balance the fruit.
Alcohol (ABV)
13.5%
Acidity
5.5 g/l
Residual Sugar
1.8 g/l
pH
3.6
Other wines from this producer
Producer | Wine | Product Code | Features | Style | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tanguero | Mendoza Unoaked Chardonnay | FF328 | W | ||
| Mendoza Malbec | FF333 | R | Factsheet | ||
| Misterio | Mendoza Malbec | FF338 | R | Factsheet | |
| Dedicado | `Gran Corte` Uco Valley | FF346 | R | ||
| `Dedicado Malbec` Uco Valley | FF347 | R | Factsheet | ||
| `Tupungato Vineyard` Uco Valley Chardonnay | FF351 | W |