Matías Riccitelli, making some of Argentia’s best wines
Website: https://matiasriccitelli.com/en/
Matías Riccitelli is one of Argentina’s most exciting winegrowers. He haild from the north – Cafayate in Salta – but he’s based in Las Compuertas, in Luján de Cuyo in Mendoza. He formed the winery named after him in 2009.
Vineyards are scattered around some of the best parts of Mendoza, with 20 hectares of old vines in Las Compuertas, another 20 hectares in Gualtallary, 8 hectares in Los Chacayes and 10 hectares in San Pablo. He has also added some vineyards in Patagonia.
Riccitelli Blanco de la Casa 2023 Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina
12.5% alcohol. Very fine and expressive with good acidity, a lovely citrus drive and some mineral notes, as well as fine spices. Mouthfilling, concentrated and dynamic with a wide range of flavours. 94/100
Riccitelli Torrontés ‘Old Vines from Patagonia’ 2019 Rio Negro, Patagonia, Argentina
This is a different sort of Torrontés, from a different place and made with different clones. It’s fermeted in clay amphorae with 30% skins. Minty and complex with some wet clay notes and also lovely citrus fruit. There’s some structure here and it is really expressive. So alive! 93/100
Riccitelli Semillon 2023 Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina
Ungrafted old vines in El Peral, aged on lees in 100 year old foudres for a year. ‘I love Semillon,’ says Matias. ‘It is a grape with huge potential.’ Complex and detailed with a savoury edge and some stony, woody notes as well as pithy citrus and green apple. So expressive. 94/100
Riccitelli This is Not Another Lovely Malbec’ 2023 Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina
Whole bunch, in concrete. Pure floral nose with black cherries and spice, and lovely grainy structure under the pure, fresh fruit. Hints of liquorice and olives, as well as pure black cherries. 93/100
Riccitelli Bonarda ‘The Apple Doesn’t Fall Far From the Tree’ 2021 Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
Rocky soils. Concrete fermentation then goes to used French oak. Dense and stylish with lovely fruit intensity. Concentrated blackberry and black cherry fruit with some tannic grip. Salty and delicious with amazing depth. We need to pay more attention to Bonarda. 94/100
Riccitelli Sangiovese 2023 Las Compuertas, Mendoza, Argentina
This is from a 1 hectare plot planted ungrafted in 1930. Whole bunch fermentation in concrete then aged in foudres and botti for 16 months.
Riccitelli Tinto de Casa 2022 Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina
This is from old vines in clay soils, and young vines in calcareous soils in Gualtallary, fo-fermented, 50% whole bunch, aged in foudres. Supple and textural with a lovely dynamic range, and sweet cherry and berry fruit with good acidity and taut tannic structure. This is very fine. 95/100
Riccitelli Malbec Vineyard Selection 2021 Mendoza, Argentina
80 year old vines in Las Compertuas. Supple and elegant, but still vivid, with pure redcurrant fruit. Bright and vital with nice acid and tannins. Very fine. 95/100
Riccitelli Bastardo ‘Old Vines from Patagonia’ 2022 Patagonia, Argentina
13.5% alcohol. There are just 20 hectares of Bastardo in Argentina, and they are all old vines in Patagonia. This is whole cluster and ageing in foudre. Supple, leafy and sappy with lovely red cherry fruit. Fine grained with nice acidity. Elegant and expressive with nice focus and a hint of iodine. 94/100
Riccitelli Republica del Malbec 2020 Luján de Cujo, Mendoza, Argentina
This is the oldest vineyard in Las Compuertas. Concrete fermentation then aged in foudre. Supple and elegant. Textural and fresh, but rounded in the mouth. Red cherries and plums with a twist of oliven and some mineral detail, finishing fresh and fine. 95/100
Riccitelli Viñas Extremas Malbec Valle de los Chacayes 2021 Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina
At 1500 m with a top soil of sand, with some calcareous content in the subsoil, this is a cold, extreme vineyard site. Whole bunch fermentation in concrete, then ageing in foudres. Intense and deeply coloured. This shows bold, concentrated blackcurrant fruit with some tart raspberry notes. Such impact here: bold and full, yet fresh and elegant. Taut, fine and expressive. 96/100
