Viñalba launches Malbec and Cabernet blend

By Gemma McKenna

Published: 03 April, 2014

Argentinian wine brand Viñalba has launched Reservado Fifty 50, a blend of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Viñalba winemaker Hervé Joyaux Fabre's likes to blend the country's flagship grape Malbec, with other grape varieties.

The grapes are from vineyards in the Valle de Uco, Mendoza. The grapes are harvested in the second half of April by hand into small 20 kg trays to minimise damage. Cold maceration takes place for five days followed by fermentation in temperature controlled tanks at 26 -28°C with four pump overs perday and a period of 25 days of maceration. 60% of this wine is then aged in French oak barrels for 12 months.

Viñalba's core focus is Malbec dominant blends with a range of different varieties. It has 12 listings across the major off-trade retailers including Asda, Sainsbury's, The Co-operative and Waitrose.

Jon Pepper MW, managing director at Buckingham Schenk, which is a joint venture partner in the brand and its UK distributor, said: "As Viñalba's new vineyards in the Valle de Uco come of age, we are delighted to launch another Malbec blend. Fifty 50 offers a great combination of perfumed Malbec and meaty Cabernet Sauvignon, and we are confident it will be a huge hit with Majestic customers."

Bodegas Fabre is owned by Hervé and Diane Joyaux Fabre. Together with Buckingham Schenk, it launched Viñalba in 2008.

The wine is on sale at Majestic with an rrp of £11.99 - it is the eighth Viñalba wine to be listed at the retailer.

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