Nuna
 Mendoza (Argentina)

The Estate
 Nuna is produced in a state-of-the-art winery, Chakana, built with the purpose of achieving outstanding quality.

Chakana winery was founded by Juan Pelizzatti on May 2nd, 2002. Juan was driven to enter the wine industry first and foremost by his passion for wine, and also by the desire to invest his time and money on a product of agriculture. Although Juan did not know it at the time, the company was founded on the same day the Chakana was celebrated on the Andes highlands: on that same day, the Southern Cross (the Chakana for the Inca people) becomes vertical in the night Andean sky.
Juan's mission is to create an integral experience to introduce world consumers to the taste and culture of the Andes. His vision is to become one of the top 20 exporters of wine from Argentina, by consistently offering outstanding value for money.


The Estate

Juan Pelizzatti

The Winery


 Wine is currently produced in four different levels at Chakana, by winemaker Gabriel Bloise:
           Entry Level: Maipe
          Reserve Level: Maipe Reserve, Cueva de las Manos, Nuna
          Estate Selection
          Ayni

The winemaking process is focused on treating the grapes with great care and with strict control of every step of the production.
Wines are designed under the responsibility of the renowned international wine consultant Alberto Antonini.
The winery is located on a 150 ha. estate, 34 km South of the city of Mendoza, in Agrelo, Lujan de Cuyo.
The grapes grown are 35 year-old Malbec, Bonarda and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Deep and textured soils facilitate plant development and confer great body and structure to the wines.
The year-long sunny and dry conditions allow almost organic viticulture practices. The outstanding feature includes a great daily thermal amplitude, with mild days and cold nights, permitting a particular richness of polifenols that improves the wines flavors and color.
A drip irrigation system has been set up to achieve a precise control of the vegetative cycle and a rational use of water. Waters are processed and used in the vineyards.

The Vineyards
 Chakana sources grapes from their own four estates:

  • Agrelo

    •

    Acreage: 150 ha, 120 ha with vineyards
    70 ha entry level
    40 ha reserve level
    10 ha estate & ayni
    Acreage by varietal at Agrelo Estate:
    Malbec: 50 ha
    Cabernet Sauvignon: 30 ha
    Syrah: 10 ha
    Bonarda: 10 ha
    Tannat: 2,5 ha
    Petit Verdot: 2.5 ha
    Cabernet Franc: 1.5 ha
    Aspirant Bouchet: 2.5 ha
    Ancellotta: 2 ha
    Sauvignon Blanc: 4 ha
    Viognier: 2.5 ha
    Chardonnay: 2.5 ha
     Wine Profile: Medium bodied, elegant, fresher fruit. Round tannin on gravels.
    Terroir: Very heterogeneous – deep clay to sandy clay gravels; cool climate

  • Altamira I

    •

    Acreage: 15 ha, Malbec high density. Planted in 2010, not in production
    Wine Profile: Full bodied, impressive tannic structure and roundness, spicy and complex.
    Terroir: Sandy clay gravel, limestone; cooler climate

  • Altamira II

    •

    Acreage: 36 ha, 26 ha with vineyards
    20 ha malbec, estate and ayni level
    4 ha chardonnay, entry level and reserve
    2 ha pinot noir (used for sparkling wine)
    Wine Profile: Medium bodied, elegant, fresher fruit. Round tannin on gravels.
    Terroir: Very heterogeneous – deep clay to sandy clay gravels; cool climate

  • Terrada

    •

    Acreage: 21 ha, all in vines
    100% malbec, old vines, high density
    Reserve – Estate Selection
    Wine Profile: Complex, ripe fruit, medium bodied, elegant.
    Terroir: Sandy clay gravels, 70cm. soil depth, Some limestone; warmer climate.


    They also source wines from contract suppliers in Ugarteche and Medrano, for entry level wines, and in Vista Flores, for Estate Selection & Ayni levels.

    The Wines

     

    Shelf-talker / Case card

    Shelf-talkers / Case card

    2010 Nuna, Torrontes, Reserve 12/750ml
    #AR1EE881060TRM
    UPC code: 7 84585 001284 8
         Made from 100% hand-selected Torrontes from the best parcels of the estate. The grapes are carefully chosen and fermented in small lots to preserve the vineyard identity.
    Age of the Vineyard: 45 years.
     Skin Maceration: 2 hours.
     Fermentation with selected yeasts at 14°C- 18°C.
    The Torrontés exhibits a fragrant, floral, honey-accented perfume followed by a full-bodied dry wine with a smooth texture and ripe flavors. An aromatic white wine.
    Pairing suggestions: spicy and savory food, especially Chinese or Thai cuisine.


         "The Nuna Torrontés is made from 45 year-old vines located in Agrelo and Luján de Cuyo. It shows yellow fruit and dried herbs on the nose. The palate is full and round with good flavor complexity, bright framing acidity, and a long flavorful finish. Excellent."
    - International Wine Review (Report #26) April 2011 - 90 pts
    National Retail price:     $16.99 / bottle


    Shelf-talker / Case card















    		 #AR0EE881063MBM
    UPC code: 7 84585 01283 1
    2010 Nuna, Malbec, Reserve 12/750ml
         The wine is made from 100% hand-selected Malbec from the best parcels of the estate. The grapes are carefully chosen and fermented in small lots to preserve the vineyard identity.
    Alcoholic fermentation for 12 days with indigenous and selected yeasts, at temperatures of 26 and 30°C, combining, remontage, pigeage and delestage in order to obtain the best quality of tannins and structure.
     The resulting wine is aged for 12 months in French oak barrels to fully reveal the character of the Andean terroir.
    The Malbec is round and fleshy, with enticing crushed plum and boysenberry fruit enlivened by a liquorice snap note. The natural pairing to Argentina’s meat.

    "The purple-colored 2010 Malbec Reserve offers up aromas of cedar, spice box, lavender, and black cherry fruit. Spicy, ripe, and well-balanced, this excellent value will provide pleasure over the next 5-6 years.    "
    - Wine Advocate (December 23rd 2011), 89pts

    #AR0EE881059MBL
    UPC code: 7 84585 01283 1
    2009 Nuna, Malbec, Reserve 12/750ml
         The wine is made from 100% hand-selected Malbec from the best parcels of the estate. The grapes are carefully chosen and fermented in small lots to preserve the vineyard identity.
    Alcoholic fermentation for 12 days with indigenous and selected yeasts, at temperatures of 26 and 30°C, combining, remontage, pigeage and delestage in order to obtain the best quality of tannins and structure.
     The resulting wine is aged for 12 months in French oak barrels to fully reveal the character of the Andean terroir.
    The Malbec is round and fleshy, with enticing crushed plum and boysenberry fruit enlivened by a liquorice snap note. The natural pairing to Argentina’s meat.

    The Nuna 2009 Malbec Reserve exhibits a beautiful deep ruby purple hue and lovely ripe aromas of black cherry and plum and nicely integrated oak. On the palate it is soft and velvet smooth with ripe fruit flavors, soft round tannins and a long finish.
    - International Wine Review (Report #26) April 2011 - 89 points

    National Retail price: $16.99/btl

    Shelf-talker / Case card















    Shelf talkers / Case card    		 #AR0EE881061BOM
    UPC code: 7 84585 01282 4
    2010 Nuna, Bonarda, Reserve 12/750ml
     Made from 100% hand-selected Bonarda from the best parcels of the estate. The grapes are carefully chosen and fermented in small lots to preserve the vineyard identity.
     Alcoholic fermentation for 12 days with indigenous and selected yeasts, at temperatures of 26 and 30°C, combining, remontage, pigeage and delestage in order to obtain the best quality of tannins and structure.
     The resulting wine is aged for 12 months in French oak barrels to fully reveal the character of the Andean terroir.
    Purple-colored Bonarda offers a fruity, fresh nose featuring plums, mulberries and violets. Fruity, forward and easy-going, Bonarda is the perfect match to Argentine bistro cuisine.

    "Nuna's 2010 Bonarda Reserve spent 12 months in French oak. Plums, mulberries, and violets inform the nose of a spicy, full-flavored, concentrated wine with excellent depth and complexity for this varietal. It is an outstanding value that will drink well for 5-6 years.    "
    - Wine Advocate (December 23rd 2011), 90pts

    #AR0EE881058BOM
    UPC code: 7 84585 01282 4
    2009 Nuna, Bonarda, Reserve 12/750ml
     Made from 100% hand-selected Bonarda from the best parcels of the estate. The grapes are carefully chosen and fermented in small lots to preserve the vineyard identity.
    Alcoholic fermentation for 12 days with indigenous and selected yeasts, at temperatures of 26 and 30°C, combining, remontage, pigeage and delestage in order to obtain the best quality of tannins and structure.
     The resulting wine is aged for 12 months in French oak barrels to fully reveal the character of the Andean terroir.
    Purple-colored Bonarda offers a fruity, fresh nose featuring plums, mulberries and violets. Fruity, forward and easy-going, Bonarda is the perfect match to Argentine bistro cuisine.

     - International Wine Review (Report #26) April 2011 - 87 pts

    "Juicy with bright fruit flavors, this is a fun wine that will pair well with most casual foods"
    - The Washington Post (February 22nd 2012), ** Excellent
    National Retail price: $16.99/btl