Clos de Los Cardones
クロ・デ・ロス・カルドネス
A Valle de Uco estate that transforms Uco's calcareous soils and high-altitude cool nights into Malbec of uncommon elegance — violets, blueberry, and mineral precision in a single glass.
Clos de Los Cardones is a boutique estate winery nestled in the Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina, at elevations between 1,050 and 1,200 meters above sea level. The name blends the French 'clos' — an enclosed, walled vineyard — with 'cardones,' the towering Andean cardon cactus (Trichocereus atacamensis) that stands sentinel across the arid foothills. Founded with the ambition to express the unique terroir of Uco Valley's calcareous-clay soils and dramatic diurnal temperature swings, the estate focuses on single-varietal Malbec of rare elegance. Harvesting by hand from old-vine blocks, the winery employs gentle extraction, native yeast fermentation, and aging in French oak barrels to coax out the valley's hallmark violet perfume, blue-fruited concentration, and mineral-driven acidity without sacrificing freshness.
www.closdeloscardones.com ↗Cuvées
Who Is This For?
For the Malbec lover ready to graduate from jammy entry-level to something nuanced, structured, and age-worthy — a Valle de Uco expression that rewards patience and rewards the curious palate.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Where exactly is Clos de Los Cardones located?
- The estate sits in the Valle de Uco (Uco Valley) sub-region of Mendoza, Argentina, at 1,050–1,200 meters above sea level. This high-altitude zone is celebrated for producing Mendoza's most elegant and structured wines, thanks to calcareous soils, cool nights, and intense Andean sunlight.
- What does 'Clos de Los Cardones' mean?
- 'Clos' is a French term for an enclosed or walled vineyard — historically associated with Burgundy's finest single-vineyard sites. 'Cardones' refers to the giant cardon cactus (Trichocereus atacamensis) of the Andean foothills. Together the name evokes a special, protected place in the wild Andean landscape.
- How does Valle de Uco Malbec differ from classic Mendoza Malbec?
- Classic Mendoza Malbec (especially from Luján de Cuyo at lower altitude) tends toward ripe plum and chocolate richness. Valle de Uco Malbec, grown at 900–1,200m with cool nights, retains more fresh acidity, shows bluer fruit (blueberry, violet), and develops finer-grained tannins — closer in structure to a fine Burgundy than a blockbuster New World red.