Kaiken Aventura Valle de Canota Malbec 2021

The Kaiken Aventura range celebrates Kaiken's ongoing exploration of new sub-regions and their regional differences within Mendoza. Located 22 miles from Mendoza city and surrounded by the Andean foothills, the Canota Valley was classified as a GI in 2019 (a 'Geographical Indication' signifies an area of particular quality). Although Kaiken planted vineyards in 2015, it is still largely unexplored with only a few producers operating in the Valley. It has very low annual rainfall and climatically is regarded as an Andean desert. The soil here retains moisture, thereby enabling viticulture. Harvest generally starts one month before the Uco Valley, which highlights the difference in climate between these sub-regions.

The grapes were harvested by hand in the early morning to take advantage of the lower temperatures. They were then transported promptly to the winery to ensure freshness. Upon arrival the clusters were carefully selected and destemmed. Before fermentation, the grapes underwent a three-day maceration for colour extraction. Fermentation was carried out using indigenous yeasts at a controlled temperature of 26–28°C for ten days. The wine was then left in contact with the skins for an additional five days before maturing in separate concrete tanks for 12 months, then a further six months in bottle before release.