CHAYEE BOURRAS Bonarda
AB CSPC + 828826
Vintage: 2017
BC CSPC + 772897
Vintage: 2016
Case: 12x750ml
Region: San Rafael, Mendoza, Argentina
Varietals: 100% Bonarda
Alcohol: 14%
Tasting Notes
Bright red with shades of violet, the Bonarda has a nose of red fruits like raspberry, strawberry, blackberry, cassis and cherry, laced with an intense flowery aroma, specifically violet, characteristic of the variety. Pleasantly sweet on the palate with intense red fruit, velvety tannins and good balance.
Bonarda
a.k.a Douce Noir in Savoy, France; aka Charbono in Napa.
Bonarda was the most cultivated grape in Argentina up until the last decade or so when it was overtaken by Malbec. It thrives in the unique climate of Mendoza, but there has been some confusion about the origins of the grape. Originally believed to be an import from Italy, related to Bonarda Piemontese, when researchers examined the DNA it was discovered in fact to be a descendent of Douce Noir from the Savoy region of France. The same grapes are also found in some old vineyards in Napa, where it is known as Charbono. Confusing, right?
San Rafael, Mendoza, Argentina
Region & Vineyard Notes
Cuadro Benegas is located on a mountainous elevation near the town of San Rafael in the heart of Mendoza. The vineyards are planted in sandy loam soil, in the foothills of Sierra Pintada, 800 meters above sea level. Irrigated by the famous river Diamante, the vineyards are exposed to harsh weather, extreme temperatures, snowfalls, high thermal fluctuations in summer -- all ideal conditions for the cultivation of vines as they provide the wine of the region with a particular style.
Technical Notes
Age of Vines: 50 years
Soil: sandy loam
Altitude: 800 m
Total Acidity: 5.78 g/l
Residual Sugar: 2.57 g/l
Yield per hectare: 90 q/ha
Winemaking: Manual harvest and grape selection at optimum ripeness. Cold pre-fermentation maceration for 72-96 hours. 7-day fermentation in 5,000l conical stainless steel tanks, filled by gravity. Pumping over operations to extract the best of the skins.