Tilia Bonarda

Bonarda bottle image

Wine Description

The Tilia wines are made at Bodegas Esmeralda in the Eastern region of Mendoza. They are made by Alejandro Viggiani, a winemaker and viticulturist in charge of all Catena family vineyards in Eastern Mendoza. The Bonarda grapes in Argentina are not the same as the Bonarda grapes in Italy. They are in fact the same grapes known as Douce Noire in France and Charbono in California. Bonarda has become, along with Malbec, one of the signature reds of Argentina. The grapes for this wine come from the El Mirador vineyard in the Eastern region of Mendoza. The soil and climate there offer a perfect atmosphere for growing Bonarda.

Tilia imagery
Tilia imagery
Winemaker Gonzalo Llensa
Sustainability Specialist Guillermina Van Houten
Tilia imagery
Luján de Cuyo mountain & vine
Tilia imagery
Wild Pollinator owned by Catena Zapata
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Acclaim
“A remarkable wine for the price, and also considering the roughness of much of the bonarda that comes to market. The nose brings rich chestnut together with funky eggplant, but on the palate the wine truly comes into its own. Currants claim the high ground, backed by bitter chocolate and more nutty flavors. Yes, the texture could be smoother, but that’s bonarda for you – at least this one finishes with plenty of finesse.”
— ArgoVino, Dec 2014
“The 2012 Tilia Bonarda is sourced from old parral vineyards in eastern Mendoza. This particular wine has seen no oak (it depends on the year) and is darker and more concentrated than your average Bonarda, probably because of the very old vines. The nose has a blend of red and black fruits with some notes of spices and flowers. The medium-bodied palate reveals a supple, clean, delineated wine. Very pleasurable and a great value.”
— Luis Gutierrez, Apr 2014
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Vineyard & Production Info
Vineyard name
The El Mirador and Rivadavia vineyards
Soil composition
Sandy-Loam
Training method
Pergola/Arbor-trained
Elevation:
2,145 feet
Vines/acre:
2,200
Exposure:
Northwestern
Year vineyard planted:
1950
Harvest time:
March
First vintage of this wine:
2006
Bottles produced of this wine:
120,000
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Winemaking & Aging
Maceration length:
15
Varietal composition:
100% Bonarda
Fermentation container:
Stainless steel tanks
Length of alcoholic fermentation:
10 days
Fermentation temperature:
77-82 °F
Maceration technique:
Racking, Punchdown, Pumpovers, and Aeration
Type of aging container:
Barriques, Stainless steel tanks, and Cement vats
Size of aging container:
225 L
Type of oak:
French and American
Length of aging before bottling:
6 months
Age of Aging Container:
10% New
Length of bottle aging:
3 months
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Analytical Data
pH level:
3.7
Acidity:
5.6 g/L
Alcohol:
13.5 %
Dry extract:
27.2 g/L
Residual sugar:
3.2 g/L