Luigi Bosca Malbec D.O.C.

The C.D.O. Lujรกn de Cuyo

On 12th October 1989, the Designation of Origin Council of Lujรกn de Cuyo is created, a non-profit civil association formed by the wine growers and wine makers of the region in order to protect, promote, and disseminate most of all the red varietal wine, typical of the region, mostly composed by the variety of Malbec, through the creation of the first Designation of Origin of America.

Controlled Designation of Origin (C.D.O.) is the name given to the products that come originally from a region whose special qualities are exclusively due to the geographical environment, including both the natural factors as well as the human ones which generate its production. As it happens in any geographic certification system in the world, this methodology provides double protection. On the one hand, it protects the producer when keeping the prestigious regional name secure from an improper use. On the other, the consumer who chooses a product can feel safe that he is consuming something typical from that place.

From the very beginning, together with the Engineer Alberto H. Arizu (p), who is still working as the president of the Council, Luigi Bosca was part of this job, and in 1991 he presented in the market the first Argentinean wine with C.D.O.

Malbec in Luján de Cuyo The wines from Luján de Cuyo which are entitled to display the wanted C.D.O. acronym on the label, have to comply with the provisions in the regulation for denomination. The requirements are as follow (for further details see Provincial Law 5999): The production zone of the wines protected by the DOC covers an area of 372 square kilometers, including the lands between 825 and 1080 meters above sea level, located at 33º southern latitude and 68º western longitude, at the feet of the andean mountain chain, in the Department of Luján de Cuyo, comprising the districts of Ciudad, Mayor Drummond, Vistalba, Las Compuertas, Carrodilla, La Puntilla, Chacras de Coria, Perdriel, Agrelo, Ugarteche and El Carrizal.

The wines must be made and bottled within the borders of the department.

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Areas included in the C.D.O. Luján de Cuyo 1 - UGARTECHE 2 - EL CARRIZAL 3 - AGRELO 4 - PERDRIEL 5 - CIUDAD DE LUJÁN 6 - VISTALBA

7 - LAS COMPUERTAS 8 - CHACRAS DE CORIA 9 - LAPUNTILLA 10 - CARRODILLA 11 - MAYOR DRUMMOND

Grapevine caring must be carried out following the traditional system called low vertical trellising, with three or four lines of wire, leaving a path between vine lines of 1.50 to 1.80 meters and a distance of 0.80 to 1 meter between plants. This layout enables a planting density of some 4,500 a 5,500 stocks per hectare.

The only type of pruning allowed is the one called Simple and Double Guyot (an ancient French system from Bordeaux) with a very local and old variant named “Mendozan system”, which admits leaving a third fruiting cane.

The practices of vineyard caring are also limited by the type of soil plowing (4 per year), watering (12 to 14 yearly) and work admitted on plants, like removing shoots, crossing and wrapping.

The maximum production admitted for a vineyard is determined based on the average of annual yield of such vineyard, for a period of ten years prior to wine-making, as long as it does not surpasses the top limit of 800 kilos per hectare.

The maximum yield amounts are: 56 liters of first-press wine per a 100 kilograms of crushed grapes and 70 hectoliters of first quality must per hectare.

For the C.D.O Malbec, this variety must take at least an 85% of the final variety, and for the remaining 15% stocks like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Syrah may optionally be used.

The minimum alcoholic grading admitted is 12.80 degrees, whereas for the rest of the chemical values, they must comply with the limits established by the provincial laws in force.

The labelling is done only after its quality has been evaluated, approved and certified by the Regulating Council.

As regards wine maturing, the C.D.O. Lujรกn de Cuyo states a minimum period of 24 full months as from the end of the making. During at least 12 months of such period, wines must be kept in wooden barrels (used or new) and the rest in bottles before distribution.

The existence of a Controlled Denomination of Origin is the natural consequence of the presence of a quality product with a renowned prestige and tipicity, under a regulation which defines it and rules it controlling its quality, production, elaboration, its ageing in barrels, bottling and commercialization.

The identification of the quality products with their place of origin has always had a strong foothold and tradition in Lujån de Cuyo’s winegrowing sector; the concept of C.D.O. is wider: it implies that the wine does not only come from a geographic area clearly identified, but it also belongs to grape varieties that are traditional, with typical farming systems, elaboration and breeding techniques.

The wines with C.D.O. have a specific personality resulting from the environment conditions (soil and climate), from the varieties grown and the human factors: it is the tipicity triangle treasuring a great historical dependence.

The C.D.O. protects vineyards and varieties already produced in the region even before its creation. And this process can never be inverted.

All sectors involved in the winegrowing industry of our region are committed to improving and refining the wines. This is supported by vine growers, winemakers, traders and exporters, and everybody is willing to follow a series of restrictive rules aimed at production restriction, quality control and allowing the wine to reach the consumer in the best conditions.

The consumer finds a guarantee in the C.D.O. together with the interests of knowing what is being consumed in a specific historical and cultural context.

The C.D.O. was created to protect a place that guarantees unbeatable perspectives of development for its grapes.

The C.D.O. needs a rule for the obligations and rights that the regime establishes for the growers and winemakers located within the geographical boundary of LujĂĄn de Cuyo.

The C.D.O. is a socially-owned company of the region, its involvement is optional and it is controlled by professional bodies. It starts as a cultural environment and it seeks to project on the civilization of tomorrow.

The bottled drink is a product authentic from the place, a property of the land and the vineyard, which is still connected to both, transferring its properties when it is uncorked.

Why Malbec? Because it is the first variety grown and kept in the region for more than 200 years, and it was the one which gave the area the prestige it has today.

The C.D.O. represents the benefit of the terroir and its crops. Just like the land belongs to men, the reputation is the result of its work.

LUIGI BOSCA MALBEC D.O.C :

This wine was the first to be awarded the C.D.O. certification in Argentina, became an archetypal example of the spirit of Luján de Cuyo. It has been made every year since 1991 and has always qualified.

Luigi Bosca Malbec D.O.C 2010 Vineyard: Finca La Linda, Vistalba.

Vines age: 70 years old Yield per hectare: 7,000 kilograms; 49 hectoliters.

Composition: 100% Malbec Barrel maturing: 14 months Bottle maturing: 12 months Alcoholic grading: 14.1° Winemaker data: intense and bright violetish color. Delicate and well-defined aromas of cherry, mature plump and species are perceived at the nose, and often times some traits that remind the coffee flavour, as a result of barrel maturing. It displays all the tannin sweetness of Malbec in the mouth, thanks to its solid structure, firm acidity and a pleasently extended finish. Luigi Bosca’s Malbec C.D.O has a keeping capacity of at least 10 years.

C.D.O. certification seal