Bodega Dos Familias 1861 Malbec Mendoza Argentina 2024 750ml

Memo Summary Notes

The Bodega Dos Familias "1861" Malbec 2024 is a budget-friendly, entry-level Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina. The "1861" on the label refers to the historical founding of the winery, which is one of the oldest in the region.

The 2024 vintage is a very fresh release, designed for immediate consumption. It is known for its "honest" expression of the grape, often fermented in concrete vats to emphasize fruit purity over heavy oak influence.

    •    Aroma: A "strong nose of earth" mixed with crushed blackberries, fresh plums, and a hint of violet.
    •    Palate: It is described as "juicy" and "smooth." Expect bright flavors of black raspberry, fig, and a touch of red cranberry. Because it sees very little oak, the fruit flavors are primary and unmasked.
    •    Finish: Clean and savory, though some tasters find it a bit "thin" compared to high-altitude Malbecs—making it a perfect "pizza and burger" pairing. 

    •    In 1861, the main building in the winery was built (currently the winery´s museum), which worked as a wheat mill. The water stream that runs across the property allowed for the installment of a hydroelectric wheel which generated energy for cereal grinding. Back then, the property was owned by the Solanilla-Estrella family (who came from Aragon to Mendoza following the "Virgen de la Carrodilla") and was therefore known as the Solanilla-Estrella mill.
By the end of the 19th century, in the year 1894, Mendoza shifted its production to the wine making industry, transforming the wheat mill into a wine-press. This was how the Winery came to be. In that period, the property was owned by Domingo Mauricio. It was then that the winery reached its greatest splendor, producing more than 2 million liters of wine.