As we gear up for our fall wine trip to Mendoza, I thought it serendipitous that this little gem showed up in the warehouse, the 2019 Finca Adalgisa Malbec.

Located in Lujan de Cuyo, a sub region of Mendoza, Finca Adalgisa represents the determination and hard work of four generations of the Furlotti family. The story goes all the way back to 1888, when a young man from Parma, Italy, named Ángel Furlotti, emigrated to Mendoza, Argentina. He brought with him a deep understanding of soils, terroir, and viticulture.

His reputation grew quickly in Mendoza, and he was a pioneer in identifying and creating some of the most prized vineyard sites in the region. By the 1960s, he had built an extensive portfolio of wineries that boasted 10 estates and over 2000 hectares of vines. Remember, a hectare is 2.47 acres. Quite impressive.

Today the family’s flagship estate is managed by great granddaughter, Gabriella Furlotti and boasts 100+ year old vines from a vineyard the family planted in 1916.  Gabriella also built a chic boutique hotel on the site, Finca Adalgisa, where we will have the great pleasure of staying in October.  Put in on your list if you’re planning a visit to Mendoza.

The estate is located in the village of Chacras de Coria in the Lujan de Cuyo subregion of Mendoza.  Nestled in a valley just 20 miles south of the city of Mendoza, Lujan de Cuyo is home to many of Argentina’s most prestigious labels and was the first area to be officially recognized as an appellation in 1993.  As is the case with all sub-regions of Mendoza, the Andes Mountains assert a significant influence on the winemaking here. 

The climate is hot and dry, and many vineyards are located at high elevation, most between 1000 to 1500 meters (3200 to 5000 feet), with extremes of 2000 meters (6500 feet).  As a comparison, most of the world’s great wine regions are between 15 and 300 meters (50 to 1000 feet) in elevation.

This arid environment, Lujan de Cuyo is located in a rain shadow created by the Andes, means that the grapes are exposed to higher levels of solar radiation that create deep and complex aroma and flavor compounds in the grapes, while the high elevation keeps temperatures cool at night which retains the acidity that is vital to high quality, long lived wines.

The 2019 Finca Adalgisa Malbec is a testament to what this grape can achieve.  It’s deep, complex and exceptionally well made.  The nose is full of ripe berry notes, blueberry & blackberry, plum and currant.  There’s a warm spiciness and a touch of anise wrapped in classic aromas of tobacco, gravel and cigar box.  Honestly, it reminds me of Bordeaux in a lot of ways, the perfect balance of strength and grace.  The palate is rich but elegant with this deep bass note that anchors the fruit.  The oak is present but never demands attention. The finish is long and juicy.

I’d also like to point out the vintage on this wine; 2019 is the current release.  The Furlotti’s take the rather expensive step of bottle aging this wine for several years before it’s released.  It will certainly age for several more years but I think it’s amazing right now.  Let it breath for a little bit and it’s go time!

This is a very small production wine, only about 500 cases are made each vintage and only 5 cases make it to Georgia.  It won’t be around long.  Expect to pay in the low $50 for this gem.