Valentine Bianchi’s top wine Enzo Bianchi Gran Corte might be minuscule in production, but it’s absolutely massive in body and extract. They only produce this wine in exceptional years, and it comes from an incredible, high-elevation vineyard in Las Paredes. There, Valentine’s son Enzo has sourced Cabernet and Malbec for 50 years. They achieve a quality level that is extraordinarily high in every vintage produced, and the 2017 version is no exception. 

 

The winery gains concentration from cold maceration, a technique where they soak the grape juice with the skins at cold temps, extracting deeper color and bold flavors before the fermentation. Next, the wine spends 14 months developing in Oak barrels, and a full year in the bottle before release. 

 

It emerges from a vineyard perched at 2400 feet in elevation, where the vines were planted in alluvial soils with excellent drainage. The 2017 vintage has an intriguing minerality induced by layers of medium-sized rocks coated with light calcareous that blankets the site. If you love deep, full-bodied, layered reds, this wine should top your list. 

 

Retails at: $60