Vintners Cuvee, 2019. Sin Mancha

Sin Mancha translates to "without stain" referring to the perfect soil and climate in Argentina's Mendoza region for growing grapes. Jesus Biancheeti's grandfather came here from Italy over 100 years ago where he trained oxen to plow the fields. His son, Jesus's father, took the same trade and little by little was able to afford his own grazing land and slowly convert it into a vineyard.

To honor his heritage, Jesus named the winery he founded in 2008, Bueyes, which is oxen in Spanish. Our blend here is 1/3 each of Malbec, Bonarda and Merlot. This is an interesting mix as Malbec is the national red of Argentina (though a French grape), Bonarda is actually a Piemontese grape used in Northern Italy to tame Nebbiolo's tannins, and Merlot is the star of Bordeaux. The grapes are grown 3,200 feet above sea level, where the air is pure, and the sun bright, and there is no such thing as pests that can harm grapevines. Jesus picks all the grapes by hand and takes them to the winery where they are transferred to conveyer belts to be hand sorted, assuring that only the ripest are used.

This attention to detail shows in the finished wine. The engaging ripeness, which in turn is balanced by a medium tannic structure. All the flavors come together in the superb finish and beg for a dish like the chicken Parmigiana recipe included or an outside skirt steak stuffed with sausage and cheese and broiled to golden a perfection.

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