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
"It has a pure, floral bouquet with dark cherries and cassis aromas that are well-defined and pure. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins and very good weight. There is an underlying minerality here, a sense of symmetry that is very satisfying. Light on its feet and pretty on the saline-tinged finish, this is a superb Bonarda."
— Neal Martin, Oct 2012
“Bright, deep red-ruby. Aromas of raspberry, pepper, roasted herbs and licorice. Supple and sweet on entry, then a bit peppery in the middle.”
— International Wine Cellar, Mar 2013
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Vineyard & Production Info
Vineyard name
El Mirador - Rivadavia
Soil composition
Sand and loam
Training method
Pergola
Elevation:
2,132 feet
Vines/acre:
2200
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:
21
Varietal composition:
100% Bonarda
Fermentation container:
Stainless steel tanks
Length of alcoholic fermentation:
8 days
Fermentation temperature:
82.4 °F
Maceration technique:
Pump over, punch down, aeration and delestage
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:
3.75
Acidity:
5.3 g/L
Alcohol:
13.5 %
Residual sugar:
<2 g/L