"Miau" Malbec Mendoza 2022 - 4 Gatos Locos

The high solar radiation and low rainfall, together with the eastern exposure and the altitude of 1,350 metres above sea level, also contribute to the success of wines that are very rich in colour and tannin. The 4 Gatos Locos winery is aware of the challenge of cultivating vines in a desert climate: apart from the necessary irrigation for the survival of the plants, they are always looking for solutions that require less intervention and that can enhance and bring out the distinctive characteristics of the terroir. The company extends at the foot of the Andes on a single plot of 20 hectares: 12 hectares planted in 2009, 3 in 2021 and the remainder not yet planted. The main vineyard was planted with a mass selection of organically certified Malbec; the remaining 3 hectares are planted with Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and other varieties. Alto Gualtallary, an area with no winemaking history prior to 2009, has proven to be very suitable for wine production: the surrounding vegetation, the sandy-loam soils rich in skeleton, and the 5-10% slope make the climate favourable for vine growth; the pebbles that make up the soils in these 'desert' conditions are covered by a thick layer of calcium carbonate that interacts with the roots of the vines and creates wines of great depth, colour and flavour.