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Valcan Cellars 2021 "Carmin" Sparkling Malbec
Mr. Malbec
When we were looking for a way to express JP's passion for Malbec, we found these perfect words put forth by renowned industry journalist Micheal Alberty from an interview with JP published March 10th, 2023...
"Juan Pablo “JP” Valot of Valcan Cellars wants you to love Malbec made in Oregon. But he doesn’t want you to just love red Malbec, the signature wine of his native Argentina, as that would be too easy. Instead, Valot is eager to entice you with Malbec in all its forms, from white, pink and red to sparkling.
The headquarters for this vanguard movement is the Valcan Cellars tasting room in the Old World Deli building in Corvallis.
Valcan Cellars is best known for: Valot said his work with so many different varieties of grapes distinguishes him from most Willamette Valley producers. That variety runs from regional classics like Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris to big reds like Malbec, Tempranillo and Petite Sirah.
Valot said he aimed for a silky smooth mouthfeel with a long finish, no matter what red wines he makes. “I would like to be known for that kind of texture,” Valot said.
History: Valot was born in the heart of wine country in Mendoza, Argentina. After completing an agricultural degree emphasizing enology and viticulture at the National University of Cuyo in Mendoza, he headed to Oregon for an internship.
Valot initially worked at wineries such as Willamette Valley Vineyards and Soter Vineyards before settling in for the last 18 years at Silvan Ridge in Eugene."
Valcan Cellars was born in 2012.
Cellar 503 Tasting Notes
Valcan Cellars, Corvallis, Oregon
2021 "Carmin" Sparkling Malbec
Aromas and flavors of wildflowers, strawberries, and black cherry amplified by the bubbles. A medium-bodied wine with a smooth texture and a refreshingly bright acidity. 50 Cases Produced
Winemaker comments: “When we came out with our white Malbec, I saw a need for new wines,” said J.P. Valot of Valcan Cellars in Corvallis. “After tasting some red sparkling wines that were a little sweet, I thought I could come out with a better option if I use Malbec.”
Valot named the wine “Carmin” in honor of his sister, Natalia’s, favorite color. The key to this brilliantly hued Malbec’s success can be found in the fruit’s maturity. He intentionally picks the grapes at a similar ripeness to that of traditional sparkling varieties Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
“This is not a regular Malbec that I decided to make [into] sparkling,” Valot explained. “This is a wine that was thought and planned, since I envisioned a different kind of sparkling red.”
After seven days of carefully calibrated skin contact, Valot presses the juice, then ferments in tank for two weeks using native yeasts, followed by five months of sur lie (on the lees) aging.
“I think the wine is so special because you won’t find many sparkling red Malbecs around,” Valot exclaimed, “and it’s dry!”
A great idea from Paul Gregutt of Wine Enthusiast: "A full week of skin contact prior to pressing brings a deep magenta color, along with purple fruit and some abrasive tannins. It's quite dry and tannic with generous acidity. Use it as a mixer and get creative." — Paul Gregutt
Winemaking Data:
Alcohol12%
pH3.4
Titratable Acidity (TA)7 g/L
A Cellar 503 selection in April 2024, Malbec in the City Rogue Valley | Malbec
