Pie de Monte Finca Zarlenga Malbec
⏳ Drinking Window
2023 - 2030
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Grilled ribeye steak, roasted lamb chops, beef empanadas
✨ Technical Specifications
The 'Pie de Monte' (meaning 'foothills') series by the Durigutti brothers is an exploration of Mendoza's diverse high-altitude terroirs. Finca Zarlenga is located in Villa Seca, Tunuyán, within the Uco Valley, situated at the very foot of the Andes. This terroir is defined by its stony, alluvial soils with presence of calcium carbonate and a cool mountain climate. The wine is crafted using traditional, low-intervention methods, including fermentation with native yeasts in concrete vats, followed by aging to respect the vineyard's natural expression. The result is a Malbec that balances intense dark fruit and floral violet aromas with a distinct mineral backbone and vibrant acidity, reflecting the rugged beauty of its high-altitude origin.
🍾 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%