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
The 2010 Bonarda displays earth notes, smoke, spice, and plum aromas leading to a savory, ripe, easy-to-understand wine meant for drinking over the next 2-3 years.
— Wine Advocate, Dec 2011
Best Buy. Smoky upon opening, with woodspice settling in as the dominant aroma. Minty, toasty flavors of black fruits and pepper.
— Wine Enthusiast, Nov 2011
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Vineyard & Production Info
Vineyard name
Eastern and Southern Mendoza
Soil composition
Sand and loam
Training method
Pergola
Elevation:
1950 feet
Vines/acre:
2200
Yield/acre:
6 tons tons
Exposure:
Northwestern
Year vineyard planted:
1950
Harvest time:
Early March
First vintage of this wine:
2006
Bottles produced of this wine:
120,000
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Winemaking & Aging
Varietal composition:
100% Bonarda
Length of alcoholic fermentation:
12 days
Fermentation temperature:
82.4 °F
Maceration technique:
Cold soak, skin contact, post fermentation maceration
Malolactic fermentation:
Yes
Type of aging container:
Barriques
Size of aging container:
225 L
Type of oak:
French and American oak
Length of aging before bottling:
9 months
Age of Aging Container:
10% New
Length of bottle aging:
6 months
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Analytical Data
pH level:
3.79
Acidity:
5.4 g/L
Alcohol:
13.5 %
Residual sugar:
<2 g/L