Kaiken Terroir Series Cafayate Torrontés 2024
This wine is bright yellow in colour with green hues. The nose is very alluring with aromas of grapefruit, lime peel and white flowers. The palate is fruity and fresh with a vibrant acidity to complement the citrus fruit flavours.
The grapes are sourced from the prestigious Cafayate Valley in Salta. Here, cooler nights enable the grapes to retain their acidity and fine flavours. The vines are situated at an altitude of 1,600 - 2,400 metres above sea level and have an average age of 80 years. Soils are rocky and sandy. These conditions enable the winemakers to achieve lower yields and more balanced grapes.
The grapes were hand harvested into small 20 kilogram bins and manually sorted before entering the winery, where they were destemmed, crushed and pressed. The must was then left to settle for at least 48 hours prior to a 20 day fermentation, with selected yeasts, at a controlled temperature of 14°C in concrete tanks. After fermentation, the wine remained on lees for about six months with regular racking, before being filtered and bottled. No oak was used at any point.
| RRP | £13.99 |
| Bottle size | 75cl |
| Vintage | 2024 |
| Alcoholic strength | 12% |
| Country | Argentina |
| Region | Salta |
| Grapes | Torrontes 100% |
| Residual sugar (g/l) | 1.93 |
| Vegetarian | Yes |
| Vegan | Yes |
| Organic | No |
| Biodynamic | No |
| Closure | Screwcap |
Kaikenes are wild geese, native to Patagonia, that fly across the Andes between Chile and Argentina. In the same way, legendary Chilean winemaker Aurelio Montes crossed the Andes to make wines in Mendoza. After several exploratory trips, Aurelio saw the enormous potential for premium viticulture in this region and founded the Kaiken winery in 2002. His aim is to make great wines in Mendoza and, in doing so, show the best of both sides of the Andes. His efforts have clearly yielded great results, with Kaiken named ‘New World Producer of the Year’ by the Sommelier Wine Awards in 2024. In addition, they have now achieved B-Corp certification, illustrating their commitment to both responsible and sustainable business practices.
Kaiken’s estate vineyards are planted in the heart of Mendoza and further south in the Uco Valley, where many premium producers are now sourcing fruit. Their focus is primarily on Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon, a variety once almost forgotten in the region. As a result of Kaiken’s protection, there are now several old vine Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards in Mendoza that produce excellent wines, including Kaiken’s vineyard in the Vistalba district of Luján de Cuyo, which was first planted in 1910.
Originally planting the variety in secret from his father, it was through experimentation that Aurelio Montes Junior discovered that the Uco Valley’s high-elevation vineyards were also well suited to growing Cabernet Franc. Aurelio Junior has pioneered this variety in Argentina and, together with a handful of other winemakers, has highlighted the country’s potential to produce top-quality Cabernet Franc. Kaiken’s ‘Obertura’ displays an intense and complex nose, with fresh redcurrants, plums and spicy notes of pepper and clove. The grapes for Kaiken’s traditional method sparkling wine are sourced from the renowned sub-region of Gualtallary, also in the Uco Valley. Here, limestone-rich soils and elevations of around 1,400 metres provide optimal conditions for growing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
