Matias Riccitelli Old Vines From Patagonia Semillon 2023

Region and Vineyards

This wine comes from Río Negro, a cool-climate region in northern Patagonia, Argentina, located along the 39th parallel south at an altitude of 400 metres. The vineyards are home to over 50-year-old Semillón vines, long neglected but now carefully revived by Matías Riccitelli. The location benefits from intense sunlight during the day and very cold nights, a sharp diurnal range that slows ripening and builds both flavour intensity and acidity retention.

The soils are alluvial, and the climate semi-arid, allowing for sustainable, low-intervention farming. These conditions, combined with vine age and thoughtful viticulture, allow for a distinct expression of Semillón—rich, yet taut; textured, yet focused.

Winemaking

Grapes are hand-harvested into small 20 kg cases at optimal ripeness to preserve fruit integrity. After careful selection, the fruit undergoes a 48-hour cold skin maceration at 10 °C, enhancing phenolic structure and aromatic lift.

Fermentation is split between used French oak barrels (60%) and concrete eggs (40%), carried out at low temperatures (14–16 °C) to preserve freshness. The wine is matured for six months in the same vessels (60% oak, 40% concrete), with no fining and only minimal filtration. This dual-vessel approach contributes to the wine’s rich texture and layered complexity, while maintaining its precision and purity.

Tasting Notes

• Color: Pale straw with greenish reflections.
• Aroma: Complex and layered, with lemon peel, orange blossom, pineapple, and vanilla, over subtle nutty and waxy undertones.
• Palate: Elegant and textural, showing bright citrus, white flowers, and hints of almond and lanolin, supported by balanced acidity and a long, savoury finish.

Did you know?

Semillón was once widely planted in Argentina but fell out of favour for decades. Riccitelli’s revival of old vine Semillón in Patagonia is part of a broader movement to rescue heritage varieties and show their capacity for fine, age-worthy wines. Few white wines from Argentina express such quiet confidence, textural complexity, and subtlety.

Wine Pairing Ideas

• Salt-crusted sea bass with fennel – complements the wine’s saline edge and floral aromatics.
• Chicken in a white wine and tarragon sauce – echoes the wine’s citrus and creamy texture.
• Pasta with lemon, ricotta and almonds – a harmony of brightness and soft nuttiness.
• Aged goat cheese or Comté – the wine’s waxy texture and acidity lift savoury depth.

History of Matías Riccitelli

The Riccitelli project was born in 2009, when Matías Riccitelli—son of legendary Argentine winemaker Jorge Riccitelli—decided to create his own path. After gaining experience in some of Argentina’s most prestigious wineries and working harvests abroad in Bordeaux and South Africa, Matías established his eponymous winery in Las Compuertas, one of Luján de Cuyo’s oldest and highest zones.

Driven by a desire to blend tradition with innovation, Matías quickly made a name for himself through minimal intervention winemaking, precise vineyard work, and a deep respect for historical sites and forgotten varieties. His father Jorge joined him on select projects—most notably Riccitelli & Father—symbolising the union of two generations and two philosophies.

From the outset, the estate has focused on small-lot, characterful wines that express both place and personality. Matías has helped revive old-vine Semillón, spotlight single-vineyard Malbecs, and explore cool-climate varietals like Cabernet Franc, Bastardo (Trousseau), and Torrontés in Patagonia and the Uco Valley.

Region and Vineyards

Riccitelli Wines operates from its base in Las Compuertas (Luján de Cuyo), a high-altitude region known for its old vines and distinctive alluvial soils. The estate cultivates low-yielding plots, including a Malbec vineyard planted in 1927, where organic and sustainable practices are standard.

In addition to Las Compuertas, Riccitelli sources fruit from select parcels in the Uco Valley—including Gualtallary, Altamira, Vista Flores, and Los Chacayes—at altitudes ranging from 1,000 to 1,400 metres. These zones offer cooler climates, rocky soils, and precise diurnal temperature variation, which allow for fresh, aromatic, age-worthy wines.

Further south in Río Negro (Patagonia), Riccitelli works with heritage vineyards planted in the 1960s and earlier, reviving rare grapes like Bastardo and Semillón. These old vines thrive in semi-desert conditions with sandy-loam soils, contributing freshness, low alcohol, and natural elegance to the wines.

Wine Range of Matías Riccitelli

The portfolio is structured around several key lines:

• Old Vines from Patagonia: Rare varietals (Bastardeau, Semillón, Pinot Noir) from 50–80-year-old vines in Río Negro.
• Vineyard Selection / Viñedo de Montaña: Focused on single-varietal expressions (Cabernet Franc, Malbec) from high-altitude Mendoza vineyards.
• The Apple Doesn’t Fall Far from the Tree: A playful yet serious range highlighting varietal typicity - Malbec, Bonarda, Torrontés - crafted with minimal intervention.
• Riccitelli & Father: A multi-generational collaboration, blending Malbec and Cabernet Franc in an elegant, age-worthy style.
• República del Malbec: A tribute to Argentina’s Malbec heritage, sourced from pre-phylloxera vines planted in 1908.
• Hey Malbec!: A vibrant, juicy take on Malbec, intended for early enjoyment and pure fruit expression.

Did you know?

Matías Riccitelli was one of the first winemakers in Mendoza to work extensively with Bastardo (Trousseau), a variety almost extinct in South America. His version from Patagonia has helped revive global interest in the grape, once considered too delicate for Argentine terroir.