Clos de Los Siete’s latest Bodega opens : DiamAndes Gran Reserva launches in the US Recommended by Whom You Know

A blend of 70% Malbec and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2007 Gran Reserva by DiamAndes is sure to be a hit during this Christmas season with its depth and boldness.  Bitingly smooth, this wine is delicious on its own and equally striking with any steak or a course with color and intrigue.  A rich, deep purple awaits you in your favorite glass (Peachy uses Mikasa of course!) and the scent reminded us of a bouquet of grapes, rhubarb, strawberries and black currant with minimum sweetness.  The sharp acidity is nicely balanced with hard cheeses.  The taste reminds us of a comment by Bruno of Dancing with the Stars-it is totally enthusiastic and on point.  The bottle itself is stunning and beautifully presented with class: not too showy, not loud, and just pristine excellence.  The blend is brilliant, and doesn't everyone love anything reminiscent of a diamond?!
Bold and adventurous, this is a wine to celebrate with and we recommend it!

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After Bodega DiamAndes’ spectacular inauguration last December in Vista Flores near Mendoza, Argentina, the Bonnie family is launching its first Argentine wine in the US and Canada in 2011 via national importer Dourthe USA (MA). Bodega DiamAndes is the fourth of the 5 bodegas that will complete the ambitious Clos de los Siete project started by wine consultant Michel Rolland in 1998. DiamAndes Gran Reserva, a primarily Malbec based wine is the spearhead of Bodega DiamAndes and comes from a high altitude vineyard located in the Uco valley, at the foot of the Andes. The impressive architecture of the Bodega has already won international acclaim and the first wine from the new winery, DiamAndes Gran Reserva 2007 has received high ratings from the international press. 

Alfred-Alexandre Bonnie and his wife Michèle are both of Belgium origins: they invested in Bordeaux in 1996 after a successful international career in advertising with the purchase of Chateau Malartic Lagravière, Grand Cru Classé de Graves, which they set to renovate and upgrade to its full potential. They continued with Chateau Gazin Roquencourt in neighboring Pessac Leognan. But they were no strangers to Argentina where they lived in the late 60’s, so the Clos de Los Siete project immediately attracted them. They purchased 130 hectares in 2005 and set to build the most modern winery in the region with the help of their son Jean-Jacques and his wife Séverine, as well as their daughter Véronique and her husband Bruno who also joined in on the project. Together, they decided to work with local architects and artisans to create a wine production facility that would unite efficiency, environmental concerns, design and entertainment.  

The December 3rd, 2010 inauguration came right after the Bodega’s success at the Great Wine Capital competition where it won the Gold Medal in the Architecture, Parks and Gardens category. Bodega DiamAndes, conceived by the Mendocino studio Bormida & Yanzon, is designed to work fully by gravity in order to preserve the highest quality of the fruit. The Bodega is also equipped with a few guest rooms, a 40 people auditorium, a VIP tasting room and a wine bar where exclusive events can take place. The inauguration party gathered 300 high profile guests, from influential local and international politicians, diplomats and specialized press. 

The DiamAndes Gran Reserva 2007 is the first wine produced by this promising vineyard with the help of Michel Rolland: it is a blend of 70% Malbec and 30% Cabernet. The 130-hectare (321 acres) vineyard, of which 111 ha are currently cultivated, is set at an altitude of 1100m (3600 feet). It is planted with a majority of Malbec and some Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Petit Verdot as well as Chardonnay and Viognier that will be used for future wines. The wines are fermented in stainless steel tanks with unique & innovative temperature control technology found in very few other renowned wineries around the world for optimum conditions. The wines are then matured in French oak barrels from the finest French coopers, in a circular temperature and humidity controlled barrel hall with a capacity of up to 2800 barrels. The winemaking process aims to capture the maximum expression of Malbec, with an elegance similar to that of the great French wines of Bordeaux. DiamAndes Gran Reserva is a complex, alluring, intense wine with great balance and a lot of aging potential: it is genuinely Argentine with a touch of European elegance. It will be followed by a varietal line of red and white wines in future years. 

Argentina’s latest jewel is now available worldwide: sharpen your taste buds! 

Alfred-Alexandre and Michèle Bonnie are not new to Argentina, since they lived in Buenos Aires between 1968 and 1970. Alfred-Alexandre studied economics in his native Belgium, but then developed his career in advertising with the American agency McCann Erickson, where they lived in New York, Detroit and Atlanta. From there he was sent it to Argentina to take charge of the Coca-Cola and General Motors accounts there. That experience "served me well all my life due to all I learned in communication and advertising", recounts Alfred-Alexandre. Aside from this, he also maintains that he found "a very fine creative talent in Argentina". Upon returning to Europe, he was director and president for several industry leading companies in home care products, before creating his own business along with Michèle. After 10 years, they decided to slow down the rhythm of work "but not so much as to play golf". Alfred-Alexandre’s interest in wine started a young age: his father owned a large wine cellar full of great bottles that young Alfred-Alexandre helped unpack and put away. 

This is how the Bonnies arrived in the world of the wine with the idea of "doing something small, as a hobby". They decided that the best place to begin was Bordeaux so in 1996 they bought Château Malartic-Lagravière, a Grand Cru Classé de Graves. Suddenly "we found ourselves consumed by wine and everything that surrounds it", they recall. "It is pleasant work, although is a lot more than a hobby". In 2003, Alfred-Alexandre and Michèle brought in their son Jean-Jacques and his wife Séverine to Malartic-Lagravière. Both passed the DUAD (Diplôme Universitaire d' Aptitude à the Dégustation), by which they were already related to the industry. With them in the business, in 2005 they completed their French investments with the purchase of the Château Gazin Rocquencourt, a 28 hectares property located next to Malartic-Lagravière. In 2006, their eldest daughter Véronique and her husband Bruno joined the business, taking charge of the financial and commercial aspects of the company. 

The Birth of Bodega DiamAndes 

The arrival at Clos de los 7 began to materialise in 2003, when Alfred-Alexandre and Michèle travelled to Mendoza to study the possibility of joining the project with their partners, attracted by Michel Rolland. The characteristics of the soil, the 1,100 m.a.s.l. of height and the gorgeous landscape incited them to invest and participate in this unique project. They purchased 115 hectares of land in 2005 and planted 111 ha. with Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Chardonnay and Viognier (red grapes: 66% Malbec, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 7% Syrah and 3% Petit Verdot; white grapes: 72% Chardonnay and 28% Viognier). Additionally, Bodega DiamAndes owns another 20 hectares of virgin land, in which the varietals to be planted shall be selected according to which are most apt for the soils & terroir in the area. Soon after, the Bonnies started planning the winery itself: Bodega DiamAndes. The approximate total investment to date is about U$D 15 million. 

The Architecture 

The architecture of the winery is inspired by the name DiamAndes, which arose from a fusion between the words "Diamond" and "Andes", the mountain range that frames the building and surrounding landscape. Alfred-Alexandre recounts that the inspiration for the name came one day when they were enjoying an asado lunch at the “Laguna del Diamante” (a lake situated at 3000m high in the Andes Mountains): “When I saw the image of the Maipó volcano reflected in the lagoon, I joined these 2 words together….” DiamAndes was born. 

For its design, Alfred-Alexandre sought out local architects, "something I always do when I have to build: they know better than anybody how things are in their place of origin". One of the first firms to be suggested was the Bormida & Yanzon studio, that eventually went on to design the winery. 

"On a trip to Mendoza I spoke with Mario Yanzón", recalls Alfred-Alexandre, "and coincidentally he was to travel to Portugal shortly afterwards. We invited him to spend the weekend with us in Bordeaux and there, after conversing about the philosophy of the project, he drew the first ideas in pencil, a Sunday afternoon in the meeting room at Malartic-Lagravière". 

Immediately, Eliana Bórmida added her input to the ideas, and then also Gustavo Albera – one of the architects at the studio, until the final outline of Bodega DiamAndes was found. "They are very talented, they know how to listen and communicate, not once was there a misunderstanding or disagreement in the whole process. The work has been very harmonious and the result is magnificent", describes Alfred. A measure of the impact generated early on by the aesthetics of Bodega DiamAndes is given by the Gold Medal obtained in the contest "Best of Wine Tourism 2011", organized by the Great Wine Capitals network. Bodega DiamAndes obtained the international award in the category "Architecture, Parks and Gardens". 

The Philosophy of the Wines 

The wines of Bodega DiamAndes possess a specific personality, based on Malbec as the symbolic Argentine varietal, but with their own signatures. One of them is to seek "refined" tannins to give a broad and complex flavor with a very long finish. "We want our wines to have a European influence from Bordeaux, with a touch of elegance typical of the wines of that region", explains Alfred. They will carry the brand "DiamAndes de Uco". 

Like the best Châteaux in Bordeaux, Bodega DiamAndes will have very few wines in its portfolio. "There will be DiamAndes de Uco red and DiamAndes de Uco white, with three lines in different price segments. "We want to build a brand that the consumers identify clearly with a style of wine", says Alfred-Alexandre. 

The first DiamAndes de Uco red – Gran Reserva 2007- is already in the market, with a blend of 70% Malbec and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. 

After Bodega DiamAndes’ lavish inauguration in December 2010 and its successful USA launch of Gran Reserva in January 2011, Bodega DiamAndes is releasing three varietal wines, with the same winemaking philosophy as the flagship wine and the same respect for the fruit. Those wines, a 2010 DiamAndes de Uco Malbec, Chardonnay or Viognier, will reach the US Fall 2011. The single varietal wines are hand-picked from select vines on the Bodega DiamAndes property and are 100% from the grape on the label. This principal helps the wines maintain their authentic tastes and varietal characteristics, shaped by the unique, South American climate. 

To complete the line, a third wine has been released in 2011: Perlita by DiamAndes. This original blend of 80% Malbec, 20% Syrah, is a fruity, round and very pleasant wine, blended with all the savoir-faire of the Bordeaux owner. 

The Gran Reserva 2007 has a price of AR$ 165 per bottle in the wine stores of Argentina and US$ 35 in the United States. Just like the symbolic wine of the project, Clos de los Siete, around 90% of the production will be destined to export, "although we will always attend all the needs of the domestic market", clarifies Alfred-Alexandre. The main markets will be United States, Canada and Asia, although, surprisingly, "Clos de los Siete sells very well in France, by which we expect to do the same with DiamAndes de Uco". 

Single varietal wines have a suggested retail price of $20 in US, an affordable option for consumers. Perlita will be around US$10. 

"We treat the grape as a fruit" 

Jean-Jacques Bonnie and Michel Rolland base the philosophy of the wines of Bodega DiamAndes on a single concept: "We treat the grape as a fruit". That is to say, with all the delicacy that the human care and the technology can offer. In order to implement that philosophy, the entire process is taking advantage of the benefits of gravity for all movements of the grapes and juices. 

The raw material passes through two manual selections, the first in the vineyard and the second at the winery. In the vineyard, the grapes harvested are collected in small plastic crates of 12 kg (26.5 Lbs). The aim is to avoid the berries being squashed or damaged in any way. At the winery, bunches are chilled to a temperature of 5 ó 6 degrees before being hand sorted. "Later on we transfer them in a small cart to the tanks, so as not to use pumps", explains Jean-Jacques. "At that point, they are left in cold maceration for a week and then for fermentation at a higher temperature for a further 30 to 35 days". 

Tanks as used in Vega Sicilia and Gazin Rocquencourt 

Fermentation is conducted in stainless steel tanks, but at Bodega DiamAndes a special technology is used. It consists of a 5cm thick layer of polyurethane applied between the double skins of the tanks, that cushions the contractions and expansions that are produced in the tanks with the changes of temperature experienced within during fermentation. With better temperature homogeneity, it allows more precision and reduces any brisk movements of the wine in the tanks during extraction. It is a system that is used by very few wine cellars in the world, amongst them Vega Sicilia and Chateau Gazin Rocquencourt. All other production operations are also carried out with the premise of treating the grape "as a fruit". The cap is pressed by layers, allowing a finer selection of the presses. In addition, they are pressed in a vertical basket press: wines runs clean from it and keep their integrity by avoiding other cleaning operations. 

The white wines are pressed in a semidetached system that permits work with nitrogen only, in absence of oxygen, which avoids oxidation. 

Ageing French Style 

The wines of Bodega DiamAndes are vinified in stainless steel tanks and are aged in French oak barrels, imported directly by the winery from the best French coopers. Each barrel is used 3 times and most wines are aged for approximately 20 months in barrel. The barrel cellar can accommodate 2,800 barrels. 

Select Tourism and the "history in bottles" 

In the conception of Bodega DiamAndes, particular importance was given to the quality of the visitor’s experience, not only in showing the best possible winemaking facilities, but also taking advantage of the unique natural surroundings that inspired the project. The welcoming center has an auditorium for up to 40 people, in which videos can be projected. A VIP tasting room and a small kitchen are also available to customers, distributors and journalists visiting the premises. The facilities are also open to the public for small events & meetings. Additionally, a Wine Bar with capacity for some 30 people allows visitors to taste a selection of wines after a tour of the winery. On the lowest of the winery’s 4 floors lays a Vintages Crypt – a cellar destined to keep the outstanding wines and each vintage produced at Bodega DiamAndes for years to come, as well as special wines from around the world. It is here that the Bodega DiamAndes story will rest, alongside other exceptional wines, represented in each of its wines and thus sealing the Bonnie family’s dream. 

Winemaker & General Manager executive 

Since July 2011, Silvio Alberto has joined the Bodega. Previously Director of Production at Bodega Andeluna, his extensive experience in the wine industry will enable him to contribute to Bodega DiamAndes' development and to meet the challenges that the Bodega will face in the future. 

The Bonnie family history: 

· 1996: Alfred-Alexandre and Michèle Bonnie purchase Château Malartic-Lagravière, Grand Cru Classé de Graves. 

· 2005: they acquire Château Gazin Rocquencourt, 28 hectares situated next to Malartic-Lagravière. 

· 2003: Alfred and Michèle bring their son Jean-Jacques and his wife Séverine into Malartic-Lagravière and Bodega DiamAndes. (Jean-Jacques in the production and the commercialization of the wines and Séverine in the image, communication and marketing). 

· 2006: the eldest daughter Veronique joins in the business responsible for the financial aspects and her husband Bruno for US exports. 

2005: start of DiamAndes project. Purchase of 115 hectares within Clos de los Siete. Additional 20 hectares to be planted later. 

Surface area planted: 111 hectares with: Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Chardonnay and Viognier. Of the total red varietals planted, there is 66% Malbec, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 7% Syrah and 3% Petit Verdot. In the white, 72% Chardonnay and 28% Viognier. 

The wines: DiamAndes de Uco wines are available in red and white 

· DiamAndes de Uco Gran Reserva 2007 (available in the US as of Jan 2011): a blend of 70% Malbec-30% Cabernet Sauvignon. SRP $ 35. The ageing takes place in French oak barrels during a period of around 20 months. The cellar has a capacity of 2,800 barrels. 

· Varietal line (DiamAndes de Uco Malbec, Chardonnay, and Viognier (available in the US as of September 2011). SRP: $20. 

· Perlita by DiamAndes is original blend of 80% Malbec, 20% Syrah. (retail price $10) 

Architects of the winery: Bórmida & Yanzón studio. Bodega DiamAndes received the Gold Medal in the contest "Best of Wine Tourism 2011" of the Great Wine Capitals network, in the category "Architecture, Parks and Gardens". 

Philosophy of the wines: Expressing the virtues of Malbec with a refinement of the tannins, and tones of elegance offered by the French oak barrels used. Treating the grape "as a fruit", with all the delicacy that the human hand and modern technology can offer. Throughout the process, movement of grape or juice happen by the use of the gravity flow system. 

Technology: Fermentation in stainless steel tanks with a technology unique to DiamAndes, Vega Sicilia and Château Gazin Rocquencourt. It consists of a 5cm thick layer of polyurethane applied between the double skins of the tanks, that cushions the contractions and expansions that are produced in the tanks with the changes of temperature experienced within during fermentation. 

Tourism: Bodega DiamAndes possesses a state of the art auditorium with capacity of up to 40 people, a VIP tasting room and a Wine Bar, in which they offer tailor-made private meetings, receptions and events. 

Investment: US$ 15 million. 

Winemaker & General Manager executive: Silvio Alberto