The harvest 2021 completes a series of five extraordinary years in the Uco Valley.
2021 has been a very good harvest. In this initial stage we are seeing wines with a bit more structure, fruit and acidity, which will surely speak well of this year’s vintage.
It has been a much cooler year than previous years. We had a very dry winter, with October freezes that did not affect the vines. We saw an uncommon flowering and setting due to a cool spring, which generated improved yields and higher quality of grapes. Grapes were clustered in heavier bunches, with more grapes of a smaller size, which will lead to more concentrated wines.
Compared to the meteorological data from last year, this year’s average temperature was lower by 3 degrees Celsius (5.4 degrees Fahrenheit). There was greater thermal amplitude, with much cooler days and nights, which produced a much slower maturation – ideal for the grapes.
Another difference from prior years was that, from the end of January to April, we received 245mm (nearly 10 inches) of rain – the same amount that we typically receive in a whole year. This could have brought problems, but our team managed it beautifully by staying attentive, working closely with the vines, and maintaining good aeration and overall grape health. All particularly important given the types of soil and the elevation changes within our terroirs.
In our Malbec we achieved the perfect maturation. We have various expressions of Malbec, depending on the type of soil and the chosen moment of harvest: with fresh fruit or more mature fruit, with more body or less body.
This was also a particularly good year for Merlot and Syrah, because cool years give rise to good quality in these varietals, both in terms of fruit and tannic intensity.
In varietals with a longer cycle, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, it was a bit more difficult to arrive at the optimal point of maturity.
All of the above bodes very well for an incredible Clos de los Siete 2021, maintaining the style and quality that characterizes these beloved wines.