Vintage: 2021

VintageProduct CodeFormatClosureAvailability
2021KA107B216 x 75ScrewcapContact Us
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 were sourced from two different areas in Mendoza. Firstly, from Gualtallary in the Uco Valley, which at 1,400 metres above sea level provides freshness and minerality, and secondly from Vistalba in Luján de Cuyo, which gives concentration to the blend. Soils are sandy loam, providing ideal conditions for growing Chardonnay. Plants are trained to the vertical shoot positioning system and yield an average of six tonnes per hectare.

Vintage

While springtime in Mendoza was drier than in the past, January and February experienced heavy rainfall, exceeding the levels recorded in the last two years. January and February were cooler when compared to the past two years, which slightly delayed the harvest. Spring temperatures were more in line with the average, which allowed for greater expression and very good natural acidity.

Vinification

Grapes were hand harvested into small, 10 kilogram boxes and sorted manually at the winery. Alcoholic fermentation lasted for 21 days at temperatures of around 16°C. 65% of the juice was fermented in small concrete tanks to preserve freshness and purity of the fruit. The rest of the juice was fermented in new French oak barrels, where it remained for 12 months. The wine finally spent two months in bottle before release.

Tasting Notes & Technical Details

This wine is gold in colour with youthful hues. On the nose, aromas of pineapple, white peach and citrus intertwine with vanilla and a touch of smoke from the oak ageing. The palate is rich and complex with good acidity and a long, lingering finish.

Alcohol (ABV)

13.5%

Acidity

7.45 g/l

Residual Sugar

2.3 g/l

pH

3.65

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 MalbecKA106
R
Red
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