At A Glance
- Fact
- Detail
- Region
- Mendoza
- Main grapes
- Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Semillon
- Named bottle
- Mendel Malbec 2023
- Defining feature
- Irrigated vineyards at high elevations on stony, permeable soils
The Producer
Anabelle Sielecki recruited Roberto de la Mota as Mendel's winemaker. Roberto had studied in Montpellier, France, before fulfilling his dream of owning his own winery through Mendel. De la Mota and the Sielecki family founded Mendel Wines in 2002.
The name came from Anabelle's father, whose first name was Mendel. He arrived in Argentina with nothing and became a successful businessman in different industries. Mendel's vineyards include Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Semillon, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and a small Tempranillo planting.
Place
Mendoza has a desert continental climate, clearly defined seasons and less than 200 millimetres of rainfall each year. Irrigation is necessary. Mendel's vineyards sit between 900 and 1,150 metres in Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley.
Altitude can slow ripening after hot days and help preserve acidity in the grapes. The two Mendoza areas give the range different vineyard addresses, from Mayor Drummond in Luján de Cuyo to the more distant Finca Remota property.
Soil And Site
Finca Mendel lies in Mayor Drummond, Luján de Cuyo, at 950 metres, on sandy loam and calcareous alluvial soil with good drainage. Across the vineyards, the ground is stony and highly permeable, low in nitrogen and organic matter, and rich in potassium.
Permeable ground drains quickly, while low nitrogen can limit excessive leafy growth. These conditions require deliberate irrigation and canopy work during ripening.
Story
Anabelle Sielecki recruited Roberto de la Mota as Mendel's winemaker. He had studied in Montpellier, France, and had already managed a major Argentine winery before taking ownership of his own winery through the new estate. The partnership brought Roberto's training to the Sielecki family's Mendoza project.
Anabelle named the estate after her father, keeping his story on the label as the vineyards expanded across Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley.
Vineyards And Cellar
Finca Mendel includes 11 hectares of massal selection Malbec planted in 1928, two hectares of Petit Verdot and a small Tempranillo vineyard. Massal selection uses planting material taken from several selected vines instead of relying on one named clone.
Finca de los Andes in Perdriel contains four hectares of Malbec and two hectares of Cabernet Sauvignon. All of these vines are trellised and drip irrigated. Finca Remota contains eight hectares of Malbec, three hectares of Cabernet Sauvignon, two hectares of Semillon, two hectares of Cabernet Franc and two hectares of Petit Verdot.
Mendel uses a planting density of 5,555 vines per hectare. Canopy management and controlled irrigation continue through the growing cycle, helping expose the bunches to sunlight.
Wines
The range includes Mendel Malbec 2023, Mendel Cabernet Sauvignon 2024 and Mendel Semillon 2022. Mendel Malbec 2023 is made from 100% Malbec and aged 12 months in oak barrels. Cabernet Sauvignon is the second red wine, while Semillon is the white wine.
The bottles separate the range by grape and colour. Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon are reds from Mendoza, while Semillon is a white wine with its own floral, herbal and tropical profile.
In The Glass
Mendel Malbec is full bodied, dense, deep and chewy. Sweet oak and espresso lead into black plum, ripe raspberry and violet, followed by black raspberry, plum, roasted herbs and mint on the palate. The wine is dry and slightly compact, with good black fruit flavour.
Mendel Cabernet Sauvignon shows ripe plums, black cherries, raspberries, sour cherries, fresher floral notes and oak derived tones. Its acidity and freshness give the wine balance and length, supporting prolonged ageing in bottle.
Mendel Semillon shows white flowers, honey, herbs and tropical fruit. Oak contributes coconut and soft smoke, while the wine has volume and smoothness in the mouth.
A Bottle To Understand It
Choose Mendel Malbec 2023. Its grapes come from Mayor Drummond in Luján de Cuyo, so the bottle carries a named Mendoza vineyard area within the wider estate. Made from one grape, it places Malbec and a specific vineyard address together before Cabernet Sauvignon and Semillon introduce other varieties and a different colour.
Anecdote
In 2020, Mendel Malbec 2017 received 95 points and a gold medal at the Sommeliers Choice Awards.
Final Word
Mendel Wines links irrigated Mendoza vineyards in Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley to Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Semillon, with the bottles separating red and white styles by grape.
Sources
- mendel.com.ar/en
- mendel.com.ar/en/nuestros-vinedos
- www.winewithseth.com/winewiki/mendel-wines
- sommelierschoiceawards.com/en/blog/news-2/mendel-wines-a-malbec-and-cabernet-sauvignon-vineyard-since-1928-399.htm
- www.vineconnections.com/argentine-wine/mendel/malbec/2023
- mendel.com.ar/en/mendel-malbec-cabernet-sauvignon
- mendel.com.ar/en/mendel-semillon