Vintage: 2020

VintageProduct CodeFormatClosureAvailability
2020KA106B206 x 75Stelvin LuxContact Us
2020KA106M206 x 150Natural CorkAvailable
2020KA106W2012 x 75Natural CorkNot Yet Available
Vegetarian
Vegan
Producer

Kaikenes are wild geese, native to Patagonia, that fly across the Andes between Chile and Argentina. In the same way, legendary Chilean winemaker Aurelio Montes crossed the Andes to make wines in Mendoza. After several exploratory trips, Aurelio saw the enormous potential for premium viticulture in this region and founded the Kaiken winery in 2002. He aims to make great wines in Mendoza and, in doing so, to show the best of both sides of the Andes.

Kaiken’s estate vineyards are planted in the heart of Mendoza and further south in the Uco Valley, where many premium producers are now sourcing fruit. Their focus is primarily on Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon, a variety once almost forgotten in the region. As a result of Kaiken’s protection, there are now several old vine Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards in Mendoza that produce excellent wines, including Kaiken’s vineyard in the Vistalba district of Luján de Cuyo which was first planted in 1910.

Originally planting the variety in secret from his father, it was through experimentation that Aurelio Montes Junior discovered that the Uco Valley’s high-elevation vineyards were also well suited to growing Cabernet Franc. Aurelio Junior has pioneered this variety in Argentina and together with a handful of other winemakers, has highlighted the country’s potential to produce top-quality Cabernet Franc. Kaiken’s ‘Obertura’ displays an intense and complex nose, with fresh redcurrants, plums and spicy notes of pepper and clove. The grapes for Kaiken’s traditional method sparkling wine are sourced from the renowned sub-region of Gualtallary, also in the Uco Valley. Here limestone-rich soils and elevations of around 1,400 metres provide optimal conditions for growing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

‘Disobedience’ by Francis Mallmann represents Kaikens long collaboration with this famed Argentinian chef. Known for his distinct style of open-fire cooking, Mallmann has numerous restaurants worldwide including a site at Kaiken. ‘Disobedience’ comprises a blend of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot sourced from Altamira and Vistalba. 30% of the wine is aged in first-use French oak while the remainder is aged in used oak barrels to create a rounded, rich wine with expressive red fruit and sweet spice notes. Meaning ‘first’ in the Pehuenche dialect, ‘Mai’ is Kaiken’s top wine. Sourced from 100-year-old vines in Vistalba, this 100% Malbec is structured and powerful yet balanced. It is aged for 18 months in French oak barrels, which lends the wine a complexity and roundness that carries through to the finish. The wine is ready to be enjoyed now but has the intensity and structure to age for the next decade.

Ultra

Kaiken’s ‘Ultra’ wines are a step up from the Clásico and Terroir Series. The Chardonnay, 35% of which was fermented in barrel, is rich and textured, with beautifully balanced acidity. Fruit for the Cabernet Sauvignon was sourced from Kaiken’s Vistalba vineyard in Luján de Cuyo, which has been farmed biodynamically since 2011. The 80-year-old vines give the wine complexity, structure, and concentration. The Malbec, from high-elevation vineyards in Vistaflores (at 1,400 metres), Gualtallary (at 1,300 metres) and Altamira (at 1,100 metres), has enticing black fruit and spicy aromas and offers good structure and soft tannins on the palate. The Merlot, sourced from over 75-year-old vines from a single vineyard in Vistalba, has pronounced aromas of cassis and dark plum.

Vineyards

The grapes come from three separate sites, all at different altitudes: Los Chacayes at 250 metres above sea level, Gualtallary at between 1,300 and 1,600 metres above sea level, and Altamira at 1,200 metres above sea level. This variation in altitude produces grapes with distinct characteristics that result in a unique and highly complex wine. The soil types of all three vineyards are similar : alluvial soil with some sand and silt on top of very rocky layers that provide excellent drainage and ideal conditions to grow highly concentrated grapes.

Vintage

The 2020 harvest in the Uco Valley yielded grapes with wonderful fruit concentration and quality, with the vines remaining in excellent health due to low humidity levels. Without a doubt, this season will be remembered as one of the most challenging ever because of frosts, droughts, heatwaves, and, of course, the global pandemic.

Vinification

The grapes from all sites were harvested by hand during March and April. Once at the winery, they were rigorously sorted to remove any that were not in pristine condition. A pre-fermentation maceration took place for 7 days at a cool 10ºC. Fermentation followed in concrete tanks with indigenous yeasts for another 7 days, at a controlled temperature of 26ºC. After fermentation, the wine was macerated on the skins for 20 days for further extraction of tannins and flavour. Ageing took place in a mix of new, second and third use oak for 12 months, with a further 6-month ageing period in bottle prior to release.

Tasting Notes & Technical Details

This wine is deep red in colour with purple, almost fuchsia hues. The nose opens with aromas of star anise, white flowers and freshly harvested plums, leading into notes of blackberry and strawberry. On the palate, smooth tannins combine with flavours of ripe figs and dates and dried flowers, all lifted by a fresh acidity that continues onto the persistent finish.

Alcohol (ABV)

14.5%

Acidity

5.38 g/l

Residual Sugar

2.84 g/l

pH

3.72

Awards
Silver

International Wine Challenge 2022

Other wines from this producer

Producer
Wine
Product Code
Features
Style
Kaiken`Mai` Mendoza MalbecKA108
Vegetarian
Vegan
Practising Organic
R
Red
Factsheet
Método Tradicional BrutKA110
Vegetarian
Vegan
Sustainable
SpW
Sparkling White
Factsheet
`Obertura` Uco Valley Cabernet FrancKA112
Vegetarian
Vegan
R
Red
Factsheet
Disobedience by Francis Mallmann Red BlendKA124
Vegetarian
Vegan
R
Red
Factsheet
UltraMendoza Cabernet SauvignonKA105
Vegetarian
Vegan
R
Red
Mendoza ChardonnayKA107
Vegetarian
Vegan
W
White
Factsheet
Mendoza MerlotKA114
Vegetarian
Vegan
R
Red
Factsheet
ClásicoMendoza MalbecKA101
Vegetarian
Vegan
R
Red
Factsheet
Mendoza Cabernet SauvignonKA109
R
Red
Mendoza ChardonnayKA120
W
White
Terroir SeriesCafayate TorrontésKA102
Vegetarian
Vegan
W
White
Factsheet
Vistaflores Cabernet Sauvignon/Malbec/Petit VerdotKA103
Vegetarian
Vegan
R
Red
Vistaflores Malbec/Bonarda/Petit VerdotKA104
R
Red
Kaiken Aventura`Aventura` Los Chacayes Norte MalbecKA121
R
Red
`Aventura` Los Chacayes Sur MalbecKA122
Vegetarian
Vegan
R
Red
`Aventura` Valle de Canota MalbecKA123
Vegetarian
Vegan
R
Red