Casarena winery in Mendoza has replanted an old Malbec vineyard in their new Naoki vineyard, in a rather interesting terroir! Winemaker Martina Galeano talks about the terroir of Luján de Cuyo, as well as the particularities of their ‘elephant cemetary’ vineyard and the fascinating story of rescuing some older vines. She also explains in this interview why Lujan is a great wine region not only for Malbec but also Cabernet Sauvignon.
It took 4 years in production, but Bodega Casarena has finally launched their new top level wine: The Icon. A blend of their two top single varieties DNA Malbec and DNA Cabernet Sauvignon, the Icon is a rich new addition to the winery’s bursting portfolio, including their recently premiered Single Vineyards collection.
Each Single Vineyards wine is named after the owner’s grandchildren, Jamila’s Malbec, Lauren’s Malbec, Lauren’s Cabernet Franc, and Owen’s Cabernet Sauvignon, to name a few. The philosophy behind their Single Vineyards line is to show the impact the soil has on the resulting wine. Jamila and Lauren’s vineyard are in Lujan de Cuyo and only 5 kilometers apart, but the soil changes notably – and so does the flavour. Jamila’s Malbec comes from rocky limestone and shallow soil giving the wine a fresh taste with mineral and red fruit notes. Lauren’s Malbec comes from clay soil with stones creating black fruit flavors, more intense than the lighter Jamila’s Malbec.
Bodega Casarena was built in 1937 and is co-owned by a North American and an Argentine family who have developed five different lines of wine. Take your pick of which to sip as you sprawl out on the comfy lounge chairs on the outdoor patio at this winery in Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza.