Bodegas El Porvenir de los Andes is a small, family-owned winery located in Cafayate, in the province of Salta. The province of Salta is situated in the Northwest of Argentina. Salta is considered the best-preserved colonial city of Argentina. The origin of its name can be found in the word “Sagta” meaning “the most beautiful.”
When wine people talk about “high altitude vineyards” they are usually talking about Mendoza. Very few know about Argentina’s true high altitude vineyards, in Cafayate, province of Salta, in the far North of Argentina. Here, in the wild Calchaquíes Valleys, approximately 10,000 acres of vineyards sit at altitudes ranging from an incredible 5,600 to 9,200 feet, making them among the most scenically beautiful vineyards in South America and indeed the world. And their quality matches the breathtaking scenery—vines grow in dry rocky soil, and the climate is desertic, giving it an even higher day-night temperature variation than Mendoza. Grapes reach enviable ripeness, and the wines are often inky-black and as powerful as the mountains surrounding the vineyards. In recent years, the Cafayate wine industry has made great strides, with the addition of several world class wineries producing wines that can compete with any from around the world.
The vineyards of Bodegas El Porvenir de los Andes are situated at an incredible 5,740 feet above sea level in the rugged terrain of Cafayate. The family behind Porvenir is dedicated to crafting small quantities of exceptional wines, and annual production for the entire winery is limited to 100,000 bottles. Like all great winemakers, the family believes that quality begins in the vineyards and maintains a fanatical control and care throughout the process, from planting and harvesting. This care continues in the winery, which is gravity-flow controlled, and through the wine’s aging in French and American oak barrels.
Laborum Torrontés 2009
A perfect embodiment of a Torrontés from Cafayate, yet with an international elegance not often seen in these wines, this is a unique experience in the glass. Only 19,336 bottles were made, and the care that went into making them is clear. The grapes come from 40-year-old, pergola trained Torrontés vines, at an incredible 5,740 feet above sea level. The winemaker chooses to use no oak so as to let the terroir and the Cafayate spirit shine through. This is a brilliant example of how good this varietal can be. On the nose, the wine gives subdued Torrontés aromas of rose petals and lychees. Light straw-colored; it has an expressive perfume of spring flowers, peach and apricot. On the palate it is crisp and refreshing with dry flavors and serious concentration. It would be excellent as an aperitif or with shellfish. A fantastic food wine or a sipper for those looking for interesting alternatives to Chardonnay.
Amauta 2005
This is a unique blend of 60% Malbec, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Syrah. Grapes are hand harvested from the family’s high altitude vineyards. The wine is aged in new and used French and American oak barrels for 8-months. This wine reflects the depth of Cafayate in both its color and its personality. It is almost black-purple in color, and reveals mocha, dark berry, and plum marmalade notes, with something earthy and Old World also peeking through. On the palate it is incredibly smooth and well-balanced, with the oak in perfect harmony with the deep, dark fruits. The finish is very long, without any bitterness or overpowering alcohol notes. Only 20,000 bottles were made.
Robert Parker rated this wine 90 points, saying the 2005 Amauta is composed of 60% Malbec, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Syrah aged in French and American oak. Purple-colored, it delivers an attractive bouquet of cedar, spice box, black cherry, and blackberry. This medium to full-bodied wine makes a firm entry onto the palate, revealing ripe, spicy black fruit flavors, light tannin, and a sense of elegance. It has enough stuffing to evolve for several years and should drink well through 2020.
Amauta II 2006
A Bordeaux-style blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, this is yet another example from the Amauta line of how good blends from Argentina can be. Only 15,000 bottles were produced. The wine is aged for 8 months in French and American oak barrels, with a large percentage being second use. The result is a well-balanced yet full-bodied blend that wears its oak like a cloak, not covering up the earthy Cafayate fruit. The wine is an elegant, intense ruby-red color. Its aromas are very Bordeaux-like: ripe red fruits, dry raspberry and hints of black pepper and graphite from the Cabernet. On the palate it is a delightful break from the Malbecs of Argentina, with a completely different profile of elegant, balanced fruit and acidity as well as a spiciness that adds layers of complexity. A very well made wine, a welcome addition to the Amauta family.
Amauta III 2006
This brand new addition to El Porvenir de los Andes’ Amauta line is the perfect blend of the two star grapes of Argentina, 60% Malbec and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon. Only 20,000 bottles were made. The wine is aged for 8 months in French and American oak barrels, with a large percentage being second use. The result is a well-balanced yet full-bodied blend that wears its oak like a cloak, not covering up the earthy Cafayate fruit. It is an intense purple color, and gives aromas of ripe red fruits, plum and spices. On the palate it is intense with good acidity and round tannins, and a meaty quality that makes it seem an even more powerful wine. Cries out for roasted meat!
Laborum Syrah 2003
This is 100% Syrah, of which only 9,986 bottles were produced. Yields are extremely low, leading to an intense, concentrated wine with great personality. The wine is aged in 50% new French oak, 50% new American oak, for 12 months. It is an intense ruby red, and on the nose presents aromas of red fruits and Asian spices combined with a light toasted aroma. In the mouth, it is well balanced with great acidity, and more, deep, ripe fruits. Its tannins are light and sweet. Australian Shiraz, eat your heart out!
Stephen Tanzer rated this wine 88 points, saying it has a medium red-ruby color and aromas and flavors of plum, currant, cedar and nutty oak, with a smoky nuance. Supple and slightly high-toned, in a rather suave style, with a restrained sweetness and modest complexity. Very smooth wine with a firm, moderately long finish.
Laborum Malbec 2004
This 100% Malbec is aged for 10 months in all new oak barrels. Only 18,540 bottles of this Malbec were produced, and the hands-on nature shows—it differentiates itself from the crowd of fruit-bomb Malbecs. The wine spent 10 months in new oak (60% American, the rest French), and then 6 months in bottle before being released. Its color is extremely deep and dark, with a black center. The nose reveals pleasant peppery, spicy notes that add a note of complexity to the telltale plum aromas. On the palate the wine is smooth and well-balanced, with pronounced vanilla notes from the oak, but enough jammy fruit to stand up to the wood. If you’ve never had Malbec from Cafayate this is a great place to start.
Robert Parker rated this wine 91+ points, saying that it has a purple color and an excellent bouquet of cedar, scorched earth, spice box, and black cherry. The wine has an intense entry onto the palate followed by spicy, layered flavors with underlying structure. It will unfold and reveal additional complexity over the next several years. It should drink well through 2025.
Laborum Malbec 2006
The wine spent 12 months in new oak (70% French and 30% American), and then 6 months in bottle before being released. The wine has an intense ruby red and vibrant color, with violet notes. On the nose it has aromas of ripe red fruits with hints of dark cherry and violets, along with subtle, toasty and smoky tones from the French and American oak. On the palate, it has an intense, medium structure with balanced acidity. The tannins are round and sweet, with a long, pleasant finish. 35,000 bottles of this Malbec were produced.
Laborum Malbec/Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
10,760 bottles were produced of this gem, a blend of 60% Malbec and 40% Cabernet. Each grape adds its best characteristics to the mix, with the Cabernet especially lending a wonderful spicy, peppery character typical of Cabernet from Cafayate. The wine is aged for 12 months in French and American oak barrels, and rests 10 months in bottle. The color is dusty Bordeaux-red, with a black center. On the nose, the wine shows all its Malbec character, with a mélange of ripe plums and cassis joining the spicy, peppery Cabernet aromas and a slight toastiness from the oak. On the palate the wine is well balanced, with good acidity, and excellent structure made up of the two grapes’ best qualities, and has an extremely long finish. Calls out for meat!
Stephen Tanzer rated this wine 88 points, saying it has a medium red-ruby color and aromas and flavors of plum, currant, cedar and nutty oak, with a smoky nuance. Supple and slightly high-toned, in a rather suave style, with a restrained sweetness and modest complexity. Very smooth wine with a firm, moderately long finish.
Laborum Cabernet Sauvignon 2003
“Laborum”, meaning “from our work” in Latin, is the winery’s signature label with, at most, 850 cases of each varietal produced. The grapes, after being hand harvested, pass through the same modern vinification as those for the Amauta, but are then aged for 10 to 12 months in all new oak barrels. There were only 5,176 bottles of this Cabernet Sauvignon produced, and this is a New World style, powerful wine not to be taken lightly. Its color is almost surprisingly deep and dark, with a black center. The dark berry and slight white pepper aromas invite the drinker deeper into the glass. On the palate the wine is smooth and well-balanced, with pronounced vanilla notes from the oak, but enough jammy fruit to stand up to the wood.
Laborum Tannat 2005
From Cafayate, Salta, in the north of Argentina, comes one of the country’s best Tannats. This rare grape (which originally came from Bordeaux but has recently become known as Uruguay’s answer to Malbec), thrives in the high altitude, high heat environment and the rocky soil of the rugged terrain. A perfect embodiment of an authentic Tannat, yet with an international elegance not often seen from this grape, the Laborum Tannat is a unique, limited production wine. Around 6,000 bottles were made from 35 year old vineyards. The wine is aged for 10-12 months in 50% new French and 50% new American oak barrels. Its stunning color is an intense ruby red with black shades and violet edges. Its enticing aromas of red fruits, spices, chocolate and a slight smoky touch from the oak, dance out of the glass. On the palate it is the finest Tannat we have tasted, with none of the difficult, awkward tannins the grape usually displays, and smoothness rarely found in the grape. It has just the right amount of acidity to keep it racy. El Porvenir de los Andes just might be the winery to change consumers’ minds about this unique and potentially delightful grape.
Robert Parker rated this wine 91+ points, saying the quality of Cafayate’s Tannat is a well-kept secret, perhaps because there is not much of it. The 2005 Laborum Tannat is opaque purple/black with an aromatic array of lavender, cinnamon, incense, and blackberry. Medium- to full-bodied, on the palate the tannins are nicely tamed allowing the wine’s ripe, sweet fruit to show through. Impeccably balanced and lengthy, this attractive effort will have a drinking window extending from 2014 to 2025.
El Porvenir Blend 2005
A scant 8,500 bottles were produced of this fascinating blend of 45% Malbec, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Tannat, and 8% Syrah. The winery’s highest quality grapes come from its unique Finca Río Seco vineyard at 5,740 feet above sea level in Cafayate. The wine is aged for 18 months in new French and American oak barrels and bottled in the winery’s finest bottles with a striking iconic label befitting its pedigree. Its color is an intense purple-red with a black center, and its strong aromas seem to go on in layers and layers of plum, cassis, dried figs, and white and black pepper, complemented by a slight vanilla note from the oak. On the palate it does not disappoint: complex flavors of ripe fruits like plums and blackberries dance with spicy, peppery notes and a smooth caramel undertone. Its acidity is impressive, and its tannins are firm yet sweet. Its long, complex finish leaves no doubt that this is one of Argentina’s finest wines. This is one to cellar—could go on for 10-15 more years.
Stephan Tanzer rated this wine 89 points, saying this blend is a deep red-ruby. Complex nose offers red currant, graphite, tobacco and smoky oak. Suave, silky and a bit high-toned in a positive way, with good lift and a distinctive soil complexity to the dark raspberry flavor. Finishes with slightly dusty tannins.
Laborum Torrontés Late Harvest 2007
This is a 100% Torrontés (late harvest) dessert wine and comes in a 500 ML bottle. The grapes come from 40-year-old, high altitude vineyards (5,741 feet above sea level) and are harvested by hand at the beginning of June. The wine is aged for five months in French oak barrels. The wine has an elegant golden color with shades of bright yellow. On the nose there is an aroma of smoke and toast, reminiscent of the French oak. On the palate the wine has a fruity character mixed with intense honey. The acidity and sugar are well-balanced which makes this a fantastic dessert or after dinner wine. Production is limited to 5,000 bottles.