Carmela Malbec
⏳ Drinking Window
2022 - 2026
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Grilled ribeye steak, roasted lamb chops, rich mushroom risotto
✨ Technical Specifications
Crafted as a heartfelt tribute to Carmela, the mother of winemaking brothers Hector and Pablo Durigutti, this flagship Malbec represents the pinnacle of their old-vine heritage in Las Compuertas, Lujan de Cuyo. Sourced from historical vineyards planted on their own roots in alluvial, clay-loam soils irrigated by the ancient meltwaters of the Mendoza River, the wine honors traditional Argentine viticulture. The Durigutti brothers employ meticulous hand-harvesting, native yeast fermentation in concrete vats, and patient aging in French oak foudres and barrels. This results in a deeply expressive, elegant Malbec that balances intense dark fruit and floral violet notes with a refined, mineral-driven structure, capturing both family legacy and the soul of one of Mendoza's most historic terroirs.
🍾 About the Producer
Durigutti Family Winemakers was established in 2002 by winemaking brothers Héctor and Pablo Durigutti, who sought to champion Argentina's heritage terroirs through precise, artisanal winemaking. Their viticultural base centers on Finca Victoria in Las Compuertas, a historic high-altitude appellation within Luján de Cuyo perched above 1,000 meters along the Mendoza River. Here, ancient alluvial soils rich in silt, gravel, and limestone combine with intense Andean sunshine and marked diurnal shifts, creating optimal conditions for certified organic viticulture. Rejecting heavy-handed intervention, the Durigutti brothers emphasize spontaneous native yeast fermentations, concrete vats, ceramic amphorae, and judicious oak aging to preserve varietal clarity and site transparency. Their portfolio reflects an extraordinary stylistic breadth, anchored by the benchmark Proyecto Las Compuertas Malbec and the icon cuvée Esencia, alongside heritage recovery projects such as Cara Sucia and terroir-driven expressions from regional outposts across Mendoza and San Juan.
🍇 Grapes
Malbec
🍷 ABV
14-14.5%