Tupã is the Guarani name for the mythological creator of the Universe. Tupã wines hail from Mendoza, Argentina which was in the southern part of where the Guarani tribe once thrived. There are three stylish wines in the Tupã line; Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Malbec. All the wines are Sustainably produced, and the winery and vineyards are family-owned.
The Tupã Malbec is the flagship of the line. The current vintage is 2019, following the very successful 2017 vintage, which Salveto sold out of entirely. The 2019 vintage was cool, dry, and pristine in terms of blight and disease. Yields were relatively low, and the berries small, resulting in wines of higher concentration, and intense colour and phenolics. The Malbec is unoaked, and a very pure expression of how this grape behaves in the Southern Hemisphere, at higher altitudes. Dark purples hews, dark cocoa, and black plums are on the nose and palate. The tannins are softer and elegant, allowing the purity of the fruit to dominate.
The Tupã Cabernet Sauvignon is 2017 until the vintage ends in a few months. The dirty secret in Argentina is that the Cabernet Sauvignons are so exceptional that the Argentines are said to keep them for themselves and send everything else to the US and Europe. This Cabernet is an exercise in varietal correctness; upper medium body, medium tannins, with hints of green bell pepper, cola, black cassis, and ample acidity. Like the Malbec, the Cab is unoaked, sustainable, and ideal for most situations.
The Tupã Chardonnay is the newest addition to the line. This is the only wine that has seen any oak, and it is a mere 3 months on used French oak, to simply integrate some of the attributes, and add a touch of spice. This wine has some elements of a classic Chardonnay such as baked apples and melon, which is then adorned by tropical fruits, citrus, and an array of North African & baking spices, which despite the ample acidity, helps make this a year-round Chardonnay. The current vintage is 2019 and the grapes are sustainably produced and high-altitude like the other two