Interview with Arturo Bertona Monte Cinco's owner and Marcos Masa Monte Cinco's winemaker.

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WINEMAKER'S NIGHT: MONTE CINCO

As every Wednesday, not only we had the opportunity to learn about the Argentine wine industry, but also we tasted amazing wines, being among them the Best World Malbec 2008.

Arturo Bertona, owner of this small winery, is very proud of having had the chance to continue his grandfather legacy; growing and making great wine! Despite the long history of being vine growers, it was in 2002 that Arturo decided to start with his own line of wines called Monte Cinco.

Arturo and his winemaker, Marcos Masa, have been able to create the wine that got the award as The Best Malbec of the World 2008. Grapes to make this wine come from an 80-year-old vineyard located in Agrelo, Luj?n de Cuyo, one of the best wine regions from Mendoza.

We tasted the following wines:

* Monte Cinco Petit Verdot 2007
Vineyard: Medrano at 2.460 feet above sea level.
Oak Aging: no

A concentrated fruit forward wine, bold with powerful tannins. Spicy and red fruit mid-palate and pleasant finish. A wine to pair with a big steak! To be drank now through 2011.

* Monte Cinco Reserva Malbec 2004
Vineyard: Agrelo at 3.600 feet above sea level.
Oak Aging: 15 months in 2nd and 3rd use French oak.
Medium- bodied, smooth tannins and lot of fruit! Good balance between the oak and the fruit. To be drank now until 2011.

* Monte Cinco? Oak 2005
Vineyard: Agrelo at 3.600 feet above sea level.
Oak Aging: 6 months in new American oak.
92 points in Wine Enthusiast

The best world malbec November 2008. Argentina.

Really appealing nose; spicy, notes of plums and red fruit with a nice touch of soft vanilla. Tannins are sooth but still you can feel the wine needs time in the bottle. I think this wine will reach its peak in two or three years. It has an extremely long finish. Don?t miss it!! Ready to be drank now through out 2015.

Another wine from Monte Cinco portfolio that is worth tasting:

* Monte Cinco Oak Malbec 2003
Vineyard: Agrelo at 3.600 feet above sea level.
Oak Aging: 6 months in new American oak.
Vinandino Gold Trophy.
91 points Wine Enthusiast

I love the nose of this wine! So spicy and elegant! It has a lot of personality and you will surprised by its explosion flavor in its mid-palate. Beautiful finish. Ready to be drank now until 2013.

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