TintoNegro, meaning black wine in Spanish, is meant to celebrate the essence of Malbec in Mendoza. Known for its dark, blackish color Malbec is definitely a TintoNegro. TintoNegro was born of the long time friendship and professional collaboration of Alejandro Sejanovich and Jeff Mausbach, colleagues at Bodega Catena Zapata for almost 15 years.
As Wine Education Director for Catena, Jeff travelled the world preaching the gospel of the unique character of high altitude Malbec from Mendoza, explaining the character and expression of its many different terroirs.
As Vineyard Director at Catena, Alejandro had extensive, first hand experience growing Malbec in all of these terroirs, from the fruit driven, easy drinking style of Lujan de Cuyo to the concentrated, complex profile La Consulta. His intimate knowledge of the top vineyards in each region means TintoNegro wines are made from only the best fruit each area has to offer.
Jorge Crotta was born and raised in Mendoza. He graduated with honors from the National University of Cuyo, the most important business school in Mendoza. He started his professional career in Bodega Salentein where he worked for 3 years, and the next 7 years at Catena Zapata developing the international business. In 2013, he joined the projects of Alejandro Sejanovich and Jeff Mausbach to become a partner in the management and winemaking team.
The Primera Zona of the Lujan de Cuyo and Maipu areas are located 10 miles to the south, southwest of the city of Mendoza. Altitudes range from 2,600’ to 3,300’ elevation. Lujan de Cuyo and Maipu have a deep soil profile with a clay – loam texture. This alluvial valley has some of the heavier soils in Mendoza with higher levels of water retention than most other areas in Mendoza. This cool soil produces Malbecs with bright red fruit flavors, a soft, supple texture with a spicy finish.
The Uco Valley is located 30 miles to the south, southwest of the city of Mendoza. Altitudes range from 3,700’ to 5,000’ elevation. The Uco Valley has a shallow soil profile with a sandy – silt texture. This soil profile produces Malbecs with intense floral aromatics, dark fruit flavors, rich texture and a bright, fresh finish – mountain soil Malbec.
Cabernet Franc is a varietal which flourishes in limestone rich soils, as is the case on the hilltops of Saint Emilion. In the Uco Valley, at 4,000’ elevation, our top soils are very rocky with high levels of limestone. This creates a unique expression of Cabernet Franc, with intense floral aromatice, bright red fruit flags and chalky minerality.
In the mid Uco Valley county of Tunuyan, the Andes mountains kick in to east, bringing them much closer to the vineyards. At 4,000 ‘ elevation lies the district of Los Chacayes which boasts very rock, limestone rich soils. This soil profile produces Malbec with delicate floral aromas, deep blue fruit flavours and a salty mineralogy. The wine is co-fermented with 10-12% Cabernet Franc for additional complexity.
In order to showcase the unique profile of each soil, we have created a line of single soil wines. Each harvest, vinified and aged the exact same way, highlighting how a difference of soil can create a completely different wine. Limo means silt in Spanish and refers to the patch of silty soil on the northern edge of the vineyard. Lightly textured and cool, these soils produce Malbec with bright red fruit flavors and fresh acidity.
In order to showcase the unique profile of each soil, we have created a line of single soil wines. Each harvest, vinified and aged the exact same way, highlighting how a difference of soil can create a completely different wine. La Piedra means rock in Spanish and refers to the patch of rocky, limestone driven soil in the middle of the vineyard. These white stone soils produce Malbec with black fruit flavors and salty minerality.
In order to showcase the unique profile of each soil, we have created a line of single soil wines. Each harvest, vinified and aged the exact same way, highlighting how a difference of soil can create a completely different wine. Grava means gravel in Spanish and refers to the patch of gravel soil in the middle of the vineyard. With small stones and pebbles on the surface, and with a slightly warmer temperature, these soils produce Malbec fruit with red fruit marmalade flavors and structured tanins.
In order to showcase the unique profile of each soil, we have created a line of single soil wines. Each harvest, vinified and aged the exact same way, highlighting how a difference of soil can create a completely different wine. La Arena means sand in Spanish and refers to the patch of sandy soil on the southern edge of the vineyard. These soils produce Malbec with deep, dark stone fruit flavors and big soft mouthfeel.
Finca La Escuela is located in Paraje Altamira, a premiere region for Malbec. It is named for the 100 year old rural school (Escuela) located on the property. The vineyard has a patchwork of unique soil structures: sandy in some areas, gravel in others, stony patches of calcareous rocks, and spots with light sandy, silt. Each soil profile imparts its own array of aromas, flavors and textures to the Malbec fruit grown there, increasing the complexity available from this single vineyard site.
The grapes for this wine are harvested over a 3 week period, with 10 different harvest dates. Each harvest date is a mixture of different soil profiles, seeking to increase the complexity of the final wine.
Vineyard 1955 is located in the La Consulta district of the San Carlos county in the southern tip of the Uco valley, at an altitude of 3,000’ elevation. The vineyard is named for the year in which it was planted – 1955. Old vine Malbec! One of Mendoza’s great viticultural riches are the beautiful old vine vineyards of La Consulta. The vines are naturally balanced with exceptionally low yields – often under 1.5 lb. per vine. The fruit has a wonderful balance between rich concentration and elegant balance.
The vineyard has light sandy, silty soils, very shallow with a subsoil of calcareous covered round rocks. These soils lend a suprising freshness with a touch of saline minerality.
Finca La Escuela is located in Paraje Altamira at an altitude of 4,000’ elevation. The vineyard gets its name from a 100 year old rural school house which still functions on the property, acting as an anchor to surrounding rural community. This vineyard has a very unique soil profile, with 4 distinct soil types in the small 7.5 hectare plot: limo (silt), piedra (stone), grava (gravel) and arena (sand.) Each soil profile lends its own aromas, flavours and textures to the Malbec fruit grown there, adding complexity to the final wines.
Vineyard 1955 is located in the La Consulta district of the San Carlos county in the southern tip of the Uco Valley, at an altitude of 3,000’ elevation. The vineyard is named for the year in which it was planted – 1955. Old vine Malbec! One of Mendoza’s great viticultural riches are the beautiful old vine vineyards of La Consulta. The vines are naturally balanced with exceptionally low yields – often under 1.5 lb. per vine. The fruit has a wonderful balance between rich concentration and elegant balance.
The vineyard has light sandy, silty soils, very shallow with a subsoil of calcareous covered round rocks. These soils lend a suprising freshness with a touch of saline minerality.