A Malbec with plenty of character and finesse.
Palo Santo is a sacred indigenous wood, whose sticks when burnt as incense is intended to re-energise the soul. 100% Tupungato vineyard fruit, grown on the regions deep sandy loams, beneath which a seam of chalky soil runs. The vineyards soil and altitude give the resulting wine character and finesse.
Over a nose of regional graphite and damson fruit the palate is structured with notes of black tea, black cherry, damson and gently creamy vanilla notes. Uco Valleys inherent altitude gives this wine its serious structure and finesse. The wine finishes with great purity, elegance and delicious black tea notes.
Not far from the mountain town of Tupungato, the Urquia family have invested in 300 hectares of desert soils shadowed by the immensity of the Argentine Andes. The winery's name, Urqo, elegantly merges the family's surname and the Uco Valley. Urqo's vineyards spread across Los Chacayes and Tupungato districts and benefit from this raw exposure.
The high UV and the mean, sandy soils of the desert environment are ideal for producing characterful fruit. The bodega itself is minimalist, a clean white structure designed, in simple terms, to best convey the essence of these grapes. The wine labels reflect owner Loli Urquia's deep respect for the earth's natural energies. Alongside young Uruguayan winemaker Leo Pisano, the small team are overseen by the consultative presence of affable local legend Daniel Pi. Their collaborative efforts yield wines with the aromatic purity of the Andean air and a pronounced mineral quality. This energy and perfume belies the austerity in which they are grown.
Harvest by machine, the grapes are chilled once they get into the winery before they go into a pre fermentation maceration process for 2 days. The fermentation process takes place and then 40% goes into new and used French oak, while the remaining 60% goes into stainless steel tank.
Seared Duck Breast, Pork Ribs, anything with all spice.