# Irracional (NV)

- **Producer:** Tres 14 Vinos de Garage
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Malbec
- **Region:** Cuyo, Argentina
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 13.5%
- **Average price:** €35
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 16–18 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** cherry, plum, blackberry, blueberry, violet, black pepper, vanilla, cedar, smoke, leather, tobacco

## About this wine

Irracional is an artisanal, small-production Malbec crafted under the Tres 14 Vinos de Garage label, a personal project of the legendary Argentine winemaker Daniel Pi and his children, Daniela and Gonzalo. Located in the remote, high-altitude Valle de Calingasta in San Juan, Argentina, this wine represents a departure from industrial winemaking. The Calingasta Valley is characterized by its extreme continental climate, stony soils, and intense sunlight, which yield grapes of exceptional concentration and freshness. This project highlights the family's passion for micro-terroirs and minimal-intervention garage winemaking.

## Interesting facts

- Created by Daniel Pi, one of Argentina's most influential winemakers, as a highly personal family garage project.
- Sourced from the remote Valle de Calingasta, a high-altitude valley in San Juan known for its extreme, rocky terroir.
- The name 'Irracional' reflects the crazy passion required to make wine in such a challenging, isolated mountain environment.

## Food pairing

The vibrant acidity and structured tannins of this high-altitude Malbec cut beautifully through rich, fatty meats like ribeye and lamb. The wine's dark fruit profile complements savory, herb-infused sauces, while its mineral backbone stands up to earthy flavors like mushrooms and braised dishes.

## Wine making process

The winemaking process for Irracional focuses on micro-vinification and hands-on craftsmanship. Grapes are hand-harvested from select parcels in the Calingasta Valley. Fermentation takes place in small vessels, such as concrete eggs or small open-top fermenters, using native yeasts to preserve the authentic character of the terroir. The wine is aged in neutral oak barrels and concrete to allow the vibrant fruit and chalky mineral textures to shine without being overpowered by heavy oak influence. It is bottled with minimal filtration.