Michelini i Mufatto 'Balsa de Piedra', Red Blend, Tupungato, Argentina 2023

Description

From Tupungato in Mendoza’s Uco Valley, Balsa de Piedra is a fresh, expressive blend designed to capture the character of the region through a co-fermented mix of red varieties. For the 2023 vintage, sources list Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Semillón, while another producer-linked source lists the red blend as Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Because the varietal composition is inconsistently reported, I would avoid listing exact percentages. The wine is spontaneously co-fermented with indigenous yeasts in concrete, with around 30% whole clusters, then aged in used barrels.

The 2023 is particularly aromatic and fruit-driven, showing red forest berries, raspberry, strawberry and cranberry alongside fresh pepper and herbal notes of eucalyptus and mint. On the palate, it is juicy and energetic, with vibrant acidity, fine tannins and a lively interplay of red fruit and stony minerality, finishing with earthy herbal spice.

Heiner Lobenberg – 93
“A very fragrant, highly aromatic wine bursting with fruit. Fine, tart red forest berries, raspberry, strawberry and cranberry are joined by fresh pepper and ethereal herbs, dominated by eucalyptus and peppermint. The palate is juicy and energetic, remaining in the playful red-fruit spectrum, with a lively interplay of wild berries and stone. Earthy herbal spice returns on the finish, bringing a wonderfully savory quality to the long finish. A wonderfully playful and elegant wine, an ode to the joy of drinking.”