Our definition of a boutique wine is a wine made in limited quantities and expresses a particular passion of the winemaker.

Monte Quieto Bodega de Familia is a special find, producing limited production wines made by passionate artisans for discerning wine lovers. The owners, Matilde Pereda and her husband, Agustín, met through a bottle of wine and started their life together, sharing a passion for good wines and life’s simple pleasures. They only make two different wines and both are blends, believing the true art of winemaking is found in capturing the quintessence of each varietal and combining them to achieve an outstanding wine.

The winery and vineyards are located in Agrelo, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, regarded as the birthplace of the movement that catapulted Argentine wines from the common table to the international stage. Luján de Cuyo is a part of the Mendoza River high region (along with Maipú). The majority of the vineyards in Luján de Cuyo are planted with red varietals, highlighted by Malbec. Considered by many winemakers as a viticultural “promised land,” Luján de Cuyo was the first region to institute the AOC (Appellation d'Origine Controlée) for Argentine Malbec.

This family project was started in 2001 when the vineyards were planted and the winery was inaugurated in 2004. The first wine was produced in 2005 and, in 2006; the winery received its first Argentine Wine Award, a Silver Medal. With great technology and an outstanding husband and wife team, this is a boutique winery to watch!

 

Quieto 2005

Only 10,500 bottles made of this unique blend of 50% Cabernet Franc, 30% Malbec, and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. The grapes come from the family’s vineyards in Agrelo, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza and are hand harvested into small boxes after which they undergo an extended maceration (20 days) and malolactic fermentation in stainless steel tanks (85%) and in French oak barrels (15%). The wine then spends 8 months in new French oak barrels, and one year in bottle before being released, which inspired winemaker, Agustín Casabal, to name the wine Quieto (meaning quiet). The wine has a bright ruby color with shades of violet and intense aromas of red fruits, cassis, plums and notes of cherry. On the palate the fruit parade continues with red fruit notes, intense tannins with good structure and balance, and a very long finish.

 

Quieto Reserva 2005

Only 3,550 bottles made of this blend of 50% Cabernet Franc, 30% Malbec, and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. The grapes, after being hand harvested, pass through the same modern vinification as those for the Quieto, but malolactic fermentation 80% in French oak barrels. The wine is aged 12 months in new French oak (80%) and first use oak barrels (20%), and one year in the bottle. This is the winery’s top wine and has a violet-red color with deep black reflections. On the nose, there are notes of plum and cherry fragrance, with aromas of dried fruits, cassis and clove, and an interesting evolution in the glass. On the palate, the wine is round and intense with an excellent structure and balance, leading up to a long finish.

Robert Parker rated this wine 89 points saying, the Monte Quieto’s 2005 Reserva is a blend of 50% Cabernet Franc, 30% Malbec, and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon aged for 12 months in French and American oak. Purple-colored, it offers up a pleasant perfume of cedar, spice box, violets, black currant, and blackberry. On the palate it is medium- to full-bodied with some incipient complexity, ripe flavors, plenty of spice, and good length. It will offer prime drinking from 2012 to 2020.