About Platense Wines of Argentina


Roberto Rodriguez Canal and partner Carlos Monfiglio created Platense Wines to showcase to the American consumer their passion for producing and marketing new and exciting boutique and high quality Argentinean wines which have distinctiveness and edge.

"Our aim is to craft wines that display the inherent fruit structure, the distinctive varietal character and intensity without compromising balance and finesse, but at the same time showing their particular "terroir" and what Argentina's natural elements are able to create.
We do not produce wine to please mass demand. Our wines are not over extracted and definitely not over oaked, we produce limited quantity of wine with its own character. To achieve this purpose we work very hard in the vineyards to produce the best possible fruit and we ferment using minimal manipulation winemaking techniques".
Roberto Rodriquez Canal

Vineyards and Winemaking:
For years we followed several vineyards in different geographic areas in Argentina. We source our grapes from vineyards in Maipu, Tupungato and La Consulta in Mendoza.
Our selected source vineyards manage to achieve optimal yields through pruning, controlled irrigation, and canopy management. We produce at a small winery facility that employs the latest technology.
Our winemaker is an Agricultural Engineer with a Master's Degree in Viticulture and Oenology from UC Davis. He has vast experience producing high quality wines and, together with our concept, he managed the process variables to create our unique wines.
We spent considerable time defining the right balance between fruit and oak notes to preserve the intense and distinctive characteristics that the Argentinean natural elements offer, while avoiding over-exposure to oak. This was especially the case in the ALEPH wines where we considered it a sacrilege to hide the depth of fruit and effortless complexity obtained through vineyard management and winemaking.

Why Argentina?

The natural elements allow us to craft wines with clearly defined varietal characteristics (tipicidad), refinement and complexity, which challenge the best in the world.
¥ Elevation: the altitudes range from 2,000 to 4,500 feet allowing higher amounts of solar radiation and cool air temperatures, contributing to vine stress and tannin maturation.
¥ High desert climate: warm summer days, cool nights, low humidity and low rainfall. These climatic factors require controlled irrigation, using the ice-cold water from the melting Andean snow. The viticulturist is in complete control of the yields.
¥ Soil: an alluvial mix of sand and fine topsoil combined with pebbles and sub-soil of river stone allow for a very efficient drainage. This, combined with the presence of very little organic material, creates added vine stress.

Argentina is poised to produce truly exceptional wines because of the existing critical success factors: investment in technology and operations, vineyard management techniques, and focus on fine wines and exports.
Argentina, with centuries of wine tradition, is one of the last major wine-producing countries yet to be discovered by the American consumer. We have intimate knowledge of the wine region and of its people. We are native of Argentina and Uruguay and have been long time advocates (and consumers) of wines from the region.

Our Concept:
Our objective is to produce high-quality wines taking advantage of the still fully unexploited Argentinean terroirÕs potential, creating wines that are different than most of the Argentinean wines found in the U.S., mainly due to the following:
¥ Wines are Òfruit focused,Ó we aim to preserve the natural fruit structure and flavor profile while showing as much varietal characteristic as possible. We produce balanced wines, which still have a distinctive edge and limit the use of oak in the wines.
¥ We went several steps forward in terms of refinement and complexity, while keeping an overall Argentinean personality. We avoid producing ÒCalifornianÓ style wines in Argentina.
¥ While we have the capacity to produce interesting volumes, we are pursuing a boutique approach for each of our wines. We do everything by hand to ensure the highest level of quality throughout. We will not become a mass producer.
¥ We source grapes from meticulously managed, low-yielding vineyards at exceptional locations and ferment/age in a small facility that employs the latest technology.
¥ We are totally involved in every detail of our operation: production, importing, sales and development, distribution, and customer service, and will continually support our partners in all markets.

The MonteLomas label is a playful and attractive graphic with a contrasting but harmonious design, reflecting its name inspiration (Montevideo and Lomas de Zamora, the founders' birthplaces).
Our Aleph label name is inspired by a short story by the Argentinean writer Jorge Luis Borges. The Aleph is a point where once you see it, you've seen the entire universe simultaneously. The sensation described by Borges of the infinite being visible all at one point is the feeling we have each time we savor this wine. Aleph is the first letter of the Sacred Language.
The label features a minimalist design, an original color and an imagination-capturing image with a representative icon.

The Montelomas and Aleph Wines from Mendoza


Montelomas Cabernet sauvignon
This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is from Tupungato vineyard in Mendoza located at the foot of the Andes Mountain at an elevation of 3,600 feet.
This unique terroir supplies a fruit of exceptional quality that, combined with a boutique approach to winemaking, allows us to produce a balanced, refined and vibrant wine.

Alluring aromas of exotic spices, sweet and ripe tannins, and elegant complexity round out this wine, making it an exceptional and versatile wine to be enjoyed with almost any meal or on its own.

Varietal Composition: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Vineyard Location: Tupungato, Mendoza
Elevation: 3,600 feet
Age of Vines: 9 years
Harvest Method: by hand in 40 pound baskets
Fermentation: 8 days, 80 degrees F at peak, indigenous yeast
Extended Maceration: 20 days
Oak Treatment: 6 months in 70% French oak and 30% American oak, second use
Fining: None
Filtration: None
Total Case Production: 900 cases




Montelomas Malbec, Mendoza
This Malbec was grown in the La Consulta, in Valle de Uco, Argentina. At 3,000 feet, this exceptionally situated vineyard receives cold breezes from the Andes Mountains, which substantially lower the long hot daily temperatures. This microclimate contributes to the wine's intense color and aromatics. Low production and a boutique winery approach, from vineyard management to bottling, allow focusing on the details of winemaking, thereby producing a wine of exceptional quality. The result is a wine boasting distinct fruit notes, intense color, ripe tannins and subtle hints of oak. Profound though not overwhelming fruit aromas are present and the finish is dense with an overall roundness. This wine is distinctive and versatile, and will fit any occasion or food.

Varietal Composition: 85% Malbec, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon
Vineyard Location: La Consulta, Valle de Uco
Elevation: 3,000 feet
Age of Vines: 12 years
Harvest Method: by hand in 40 pound baskets
Fermentation: 8 days, 80 degrees F at peak, indigenous yeast
Extended Maceration: 18 days
Oak Treatment: 6 months in second use 70% French Oak and 30% American oak
Fining: None
Filtration: None
Total Case Production: 1,800 cases



Aleph Cabernet sauvignon, Mendoza
This Cabernet Sauvignon was grown in our Tupungato vineyard in the Valle de Uco zone in Mendoza. At an elevation of 3,600 feet, it is a highly coveted viticulture area of Argentina due to its exceptional climate and soil characteristics. This vineyard receives the cold airflow that descends from the Andes Mountains, significantly cooling the grapes after exposure to warm, sunny days. This temperature differential contributes to the wine's intense color and aromatics. The wine was finished in new French oak barrels for six months to obtain a balanced communion between fruit and oak notes. The result is a complex yet very elegant wine, with plenty of fruit accents, sweet and ripe tannins, intriguing spice notes, and a long, harmonious and pleasant finish.
Varietal Composition: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Vineyard Location: Tupungato, Mendoza
Elevation: 3,600 feet
Age of Vines: 11 years
Harvest Method: by hand in 40 pound baskets
Fermentation: 8 days, 85 degrees F at peak, indigenous yeast, small stainless steel tanks
Extended Maceration: 20 days
Oak Treatment: 6 months in new French oak
Fining: None
Filtration: None
Total Case Production: 1,100 cases



Aleph Malbec, Mendoza
This Malbec was grown in Lunlunta, Alto Rio Mendoza, one of the most sought after wine growing areas in the Primera Zona of Mendoza. The vineyard enjoys unique climate and soil characteristics that contribute to the wine's intense color and aromatics. This Aleph captures the essence of Malbec's inherent qualities and its varietal characteristics, revealing natural fruity sumptuousness, intense color, and solid structure. The result is a big, violet-colored wine that has multiple layers of texture and complexity, while maintaining an effortless elegance. Ripe tannins, intriguing fruit, earthy spice notes, very subtle influences of French oak, as well as a long, harmonious and surprising finish complete this wine. We recommend aerating the Aleph Malbec using a decanter for at least 15 minutes prior to its enjoyment. Drink the Aleph Malbec now or cellar it for another five years.

Varietal Composition: 100% Malbec
Vineyard Location: Lunlunta, Mendoza
Elevation: 2,700 feet
Age of Vines: 12 years
Harvest Method: by hand in 40 pound baskets
Fermentation: 8 days, 85 degrees F at peak, indigenous yeast
Extended Maceration: 20 days
Oak Treatment: 3 months in new French oak
Fining: None
Filtration: None
Total Case Production: 700 cases