Our Family Icon, Bodega El Porvenir
Owned and operated by the Romero Marcuzzi family, Bodega El Porvenir sits on the top of the world. Sort of. Located in Salta in Argentina’s Valle de Cayafate, the winery shares vineyard space with some of the world’s highest vineyards.
The family chose this extreme location to pay homage to the region’s extraordinary character. Their commitment involves more than making high-quality wines that emphasize that character. It extends to protecting the land and environment through sustainable farming practices.
Bodega El Porvenir represents more than the pinnacle of the winery’s production. The family’s icon, it stands for their promise and commitment. “El Porvenir” means “the future.”
From the website: “El Porvenir is the luxury of being able to think long term. Inspired by future generations, we conceived of this wine. Because when we think of what is to come, we think about how legacies are passed down, about how the future will be, and about how this wine, which is our family icon and which expresses our ideas in their purest and most noble form, is helping Cafayate be the best it can be. El Porvenir, our great promise.”
Bodega El Porvenir, 2013
This iconic blend changes a bit from vintage to vintage. For the 2013 that I drank, the blend included Malbec (60%), Cabernet Sauvignon (30%), Tannat (7%), and Petit Verdot (3%). The majority of grapes they sourced from their Finca Río Seco vineyards located at 1,700 meters. The Tannat came from 55 year-old vines in their Finca El Retiro at 1,650 meters.
In the winery, the must underwent six days of cold maceration. Following 15 days of fermentation, the wine then spend another 20 days macerating.
The wines aged for 18 to 22 months in new French and American oak barrels. After blending the final wine bottled aged a further two years prior to release.
Inky black almost on the pour the wine released heady aromas of cigar box, black plums, cocoa powder, and clove. I did not get much in the way of primary fruit aromas but this deep smoky and foresty bouquet was really gorgeous. Complex flavors peeled back layer by layer starting with rich black fruits followed by bitter cocoa powder, brown spices, and cedar before gliding into a long licorice-filled finish. Big, velvet tannins filled the mouth and added structure but did not overwhelm nor the high alcohol (14.5% abv).
There are so many things to love about this outstanding wine.