Las Compuertas IG

Las Compuertas marks the start of the irrigation network in Luján de Cuyo. It sits right against the foothills, so it was the first area in Luján to receive acequia water, and its vineyards are among the highest in the department. The INV recognised the IG in Res. C.30/2007. South America Wine Guide says only about 400 hectares are left, because housing is squeezing the land.

The soils are ancient river terraces with clay, sand, pebbles, caliche (calcareous crust) and big rolling stones. Many growers farm small plots by soil type. This is old-vine country. Vinous notes vines planted along the channels in the mid-19th century, and South America Wine Guide mentions 100-year-old vines. Terrazas de los Andes and Château Cheval Blanc make Cheval des Andes from a vineyard here that was planted in 1929 on its own roots at 1,070 metres, on deep silty soil with a lot of limestone. Fabre Montmayou's Grand Vin 2019 uses Las Compuertas and Vistalba fruit.

When I open a Las Compuertas Malbec I'm looking for the elegance Wine Folly describes, and for the depth that old vines should give.