In Los Chacayes, Argentine winemaking recreated its own Rhône

by La Nación

 

With the launch of its wine "Luminoso Estate GSM," Bodega Corazón del Sol, located in the Los Chacayes region, Uco Valley, province of Mendoza, marked a before and after in local viticulture by creating the first Argentine specimen composed of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre grapes, inspired by the great wines of the Rhône Valley in southern France. Corazón del Sol is also recognized for being a pioneer in planting Grenache and Mourvèdre in Tunuyán, in the Geographical Indication (GI) Los Chacayes, where it owns its vineyards. Fifteen years after that gamble made by Dr. Madaiah Revana, founder and owner of the winery and a renowned viticulturist in the most important wine regions of the United States, Napa Valley (California), and the Willamette Valley (Oregon), where he also produces high-end wines, Corazón del Sol invites you to discover and enjoy this unique blend acclaimed by experts worldwide.

Mendoza, November 2023. Corazón del Sol, the prestigious winery located in the Geographical Indication (GI) Los Chacayes, in the Uco Valley of Mendoza, founded and led by Dr. Madaiah Revana, celebrates in a vertical tasting its 10 vintages of "Luminoso Estate GSM," its emblematic wine and the first wine in Argentina made with Grenache (Garnacha in Spanish), Syrah, and Mourvèdre (Monastrell in Spanish) grapes, with its first vintage being 2011.

Pioneers in planting Grenache and Mourvèdre in this region and in launching a blend with these varietals to the local market, which changed slightly in its composition over these ten years, it stands out for its complexity and elegance. From that first edition to the present, Luminoso Estate GSM has been highly praised by experts worldwide, distinguished by the most important wine critics such as Wine Spectator, Wine Advocate, Tim Atkin, and James Suckling, among others.

The visionary who marked a milestone in local viticulture Dr. Madaiah Revana emigrated from India to the United States in the early 70s, being a young and ambitious medical student. Currently, he balances his successful cardiology practice in Houston, Texas, with his commitment to the Revana Wine Portfolio.

Today, he is the only Indian immigrant who owns three wineries that have appeared on the Top 100 lists of Wine Spectator and are highly acclaimed by international specialized press. After founding and developing wineries like Revana Estate in Napa Valley (California) and Alexana Estate in the Willamette Valley (Oregon), both 'Top 100' wineries, Dr. Madaiah Revana arrived in Mendoza in 2008 and was amazed by the Uco Valley and its wines, especially the Los Chacayes region, where he envisioned the possibility of creating the first Argentine wines with these varieties.

In Mendoza, he had the privilege of meeting an icon of Argentine winemaking: winemaker Santiago Achaval, a pioneer of single-vineyard Malbec and old vines. Alongside Achával, as an advisor, he discovered the Los Chacayes region and right there, surrounded by thousands of hectares of native desert covered with countless stones, a few steps from the Arroyo Grande, Dr. Revana knew he was in the perfect terroir to fulfill his dream: planting a vineyard that would challenge the best Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre specimens in the world.

Without knowing at all that he was betting on a terroir that ten years later would become the geographical epicenter of one of the most exciting wine regions in Argentina (the GI Los Chacayes), in 2008, Revana acquires 7 hectares of vineyards in The Vines. There, he planted the first vines of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre. In fact, today, most of the Grenache and Mourvèdre vines in the Uco Valley trace back to the stakes of the Revana Vineyard.

Years later, the grapes were harvested by hand and placed in a 10 hl tank for co-fermentation. In 2011, Luminoso Estate GSM was born, the first wine with that varietal composition in the history of Argentina.

In 2014, Revana began building his own winery, Corazón del Sol, and in 2016, he decided to open the establishment to tourism.

Corazón del Sol marked a before and after in local viticulture with its exceptional Luminoso Estate GSM, made with grapes from the estate located in the GI Los Chacayes. With slight variations in its composition and winemaking, over the last decade, the wine has shown a clear evolution, always highlighting the quality and elegant nuances it offers.

The first vintage of Luminoso Estate GSM dates back to 2011, this complex blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre (GSM) in equal parts is characterized by its elegant structure and excellent bottle aging. The vineyards located at 1,100 meters above sea level give a unique profile to these classic varieties, with aromas of strawberries and figs. On the palate, there are notes of fresh red fruits that evolve towards a rustic passage of pepper and spices. Fresh acidity and spiced tannins provide balance and elegance to a long finish.

While in its first version for 24 months of aging, French oak barrels were used, 50% first-use and 50% second-use, in the 2012 vintage, this proportion was modified to 10% and 90%, reducing the contribution of wood.

Luminoso Estate GSM 2012 In the mouth, fresh red fruits that evolve towards a rustic passage of pepper and spices. Fresh acidity and spiced tannins provide balance and elegance to a long finish.

Luminoso Estate GSM 2013 has aromas of raspberry, cloves, and black cherry, while on the palate, there are notes of spicy red fruits with vibrant acidity and a firm tannic structure of black fruits with abundant length and elegance.

For the 2014 edition of this blend, the winemaking team decided to change the varietal composition to 39% Grenache, 15% Syrah, and 46% Mourvèdre, and reduce the aging time to 14 months. The result is a nose with hints of raspberry, strawberry, white pepper, and violets. On the palate, there is fresh red fruit with lively acidity and a spiced core of black fruit, complex tannins with layers of elegant texture.

In 2015, the varietal composition was modified again, incorporating 40% Grenache, 25% Syrah, and 35% Mourvèdre. The prominence of Grenache is maintained in the five subsequent vintages, and in 2016, another fundamental change in vinification was made by aging 100% in neutral barrels.

The 2017 vintage of Luminoso Estate obtained 93 points in Tim Atkin's ranking.
The following year, in 2018, another modification was made to the blend, incorporating 15% whole clusters of Grenache in the fermentation. Aromatic notes of violet and black raspberry appear, The following year, in 2018, another modification was made to the blend, incorporating 15% whole clusters of Grenache in the fermentation. Aromatic notes of violet and black raspberry appear, along with spicy notes, white pepper, and a firm structure. The palate has a freshness of red fruit with lively acidity and a spiced core of black fruit, complex tannins with layers of elegant texture.

The latest two vintages, 2019 and 2020, presented the same Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre composition, aging 18 months in 20hl French oak barrels. In 2019, a greater percentage of whole clusters (30%) was incorporated into the Grenache fermentation, resulting in a nose with violet and black raspberry aromas, spices, and notes of white pepper. In the mouth, there is freshness in red fruit with lively acidity and a spiced core of black fruit, complex tannins with layers of elegant texture.

Regarding the 2020 harvest, the youngest of this vertical tasting, it presents a more closed nose in its early years. With more time in the bottle, it will surely offer an aromatic profile with notes of violet, black raspberry, spices, and white pepper. On the palate, it is characterized by its freshness of red fruit with lively acidity and a spiced core of black fruit, complex tannins with layers of elegant texture.

"The Uco Valley, specifically Los Chacayes, offers unique conditions for these varieties, where their cultivation presents an optimal combination of temperature, altitude, and exposure. We have found that the microclimates, soils, and the altitude of our vineyards in the Uco Valley give the Luminoso Estate GSM a unique character that stands out among the best in the world," said Dr. Madaiah Revana.

On the occasion of the vertical tasting, the founder of Corazón del Sol shared some reflections: "Ten years after the first vintage of Luminoso Estate GSM, we are proud to see the evolution of this wine and the recognition it has achieved. It is a reflection of our commitment to quality and innovation in winemaking. Our vision was to create a wine that expressed the unique terroir of the Uco Valley and the Los Chacayes region, and I believe that Luminoso Estate GSM has truly achieved that goal."

The journey of Luminoso Estate GSM reflects the commitment to excellence and innovation of Corazón del Sol, a winery that has become a reference in Argentine viticulture. Through its dedication to quality, the winery has achieved remarkable success in the international arena, placing its wines among the best in the world.

About Corazón del Sol
Founded in 2011 by Dr. Madaiah Revana, Corazón del Sol is a prestigious winery located in the Los Chacayes region of the Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina. Dedicated to crafting exceptional wines that express the unique terroir of the region, Corazón del Sol is known for its commitment to quality, innovation, and sustainability. The winery produces a range of wines, including its flagship wine, Luminoso Estate GSM, a blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre that has received acclaim from critics and wine enthusiasts around the world. With a focus on artisanal winemaking and a deep respect for the land, Corazón del Sol is a leading force in the Argentine wine industry.

Read the Spanish version of this article here.

For more information, please visit www.corazondelsol.com.

Media Contact:
Florencia Romero
florencia.romero@corazondelsol.com
+54 9 261 688 3628

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/76176c7e-f26a-48b3-b1f7-e26d3941698f
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/28124ef1-0ff7-4870-b80d-8da90e80880d
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/38582cb3-76a5-4aa3-82b5-e52a46b88e82