Altos Las Hormigas Appellation Paraje Altamira Malbec 2019
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James
Suckling - Vinous
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Wine
Enthusiast
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
A fantastic vintage for our Paraje Altamira Malbec, which shows as much complexity, concentration, and texture as this appellation can deliver; without resigning drinkability nor grace. It has a deep ruby red color with soft violet hues. The nose is intense and elegant, with aromas of black fruits, cassis and plums, as well as herbal aromas, mainly eucalyptus. Subtle notes of chalk and orange peel begin to show as the wine opens in the glass. The attack is impressive; it is juicy, fresh and vertical in the palate. It has great texture, notes of chalk and a long and velvety finish that leaves you with a watering mouth and a smile on your face.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Fresh and vivid on the nose with fresh strawberries, flowers and blue fruit. Medium- to full-bodied with firm, refined tannins that run the length of the wine. Spicy and refined with a linear freshness and focus. Lots of energy. Very fine tannins. Will age beautifully.
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Vinous
The 2019 Malbec Appellation Paraje Altamira is made with grapes from the eponymous Uco Valley GI and aged for 18 months in untoasted foudres. A rich violet in hue. The subtle, clean and austere nose offers notes of plum and cherry along with violet and herb aromas against a cedar backdrop. In the mouth, the core is provided by a juicy freshness while the texture is chalky. A little reactive grip makes for a compact, nimble and linear flow that guarantees it will grow in the bottle. Fresh grapes appear at the back of the throat enhanced by the tannins. Keep for a while before drinking to allow its subtle character to develop properly.
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Wine Enthusiast
The Appellation series shows the terroir’s characteristics of subregions in Uco Valley. This one comes from limestone soils in Gualtallary. Violets, blackberry and cherry meet with hints of salt and oak spices on the nose. Well structured, the delicate palate features excellent acidity and chalky texture. Plum, blackberry and cherries merge with aniseed and tobacco. It’s delicious now, but is ageworthy.
Other Vintages
2020-
James
Suckling -
Robert
Parker
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Robert
Parker -
James
Suckling
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Robert
Parker
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James
Suckling
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Robert
Parker
In 1995 Alberto Antonini, a well-known Tuscan winemaker, and Antonio Morescalchi, a young entrepreneur, took a trip to visit the burgeoning wine areas of South America. It only took one stop to find what they were looking for. They were immediately impressed by the vineyards thriving in the high altitude and dry climate of Mendoza, and were captivated by the whispered traditions and blend of cultures.
They returned to Tuscany powerfully impressed not only by the region, but also by the unexplored potential of Malbec, a grape that had a strong local tradition but was largely ignored and misunderstood. While the rest of the wine world saw Mendoza struggling to shed its bulk wine image, the two young Italians saw Mendoza as a place where traditional viticultural values and unblemished land could be reinvigorated with a modern winemaking approach and international experience. Instead of planting Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, as many others were doing during the 1990s, the team decided to invest their confidence in Malbec. Today, Malbec is the varietal for which Argentina is best known.
Against all odds they cemented their vision to become Terroir Specialists Shortly after, two friends and business partners, also enthused by the idea, joined the venture: Attilio Pagli, a renowned Tuscan winemaker with two 100 point-scoring wines in his personal record and Carlos Vazquez, an Argentine Agronomist, who work for 20 years with the early Catena group, planting new varieties, developing previously unknown vineyard sites and contributing greatly to the qualitative change of Argentine viticulture early on.
Celebrated for its bold flavors and supple texture, Malbec has enjoyed runaway success in Argentina since the late 20th century. The grape originated in Bordeaux, France, where it historically contributed color and tannin to blends. A French agronomist, who saw great potential for the variety in Mendoza’s hot, high-altitude landscape, brought Malbec to Argentina in 1868. Somm Secret—If you’re trying to please a crowd, Malbec is generally a safe bet with its combination of dense fruit and soft tannins.
With a winning combination of cool weather, high elevation and well-draining alluvial soils, it is no surprise that Mendoza’s Uco Valley is one of the most exciting up-and-coming wine regions in Argentina. Healthy, easy-to-manage vines produce low yields of high-quality fruit, which in turn create flavorful, full-bodied wines with generous acidity.
This is the source of some of the best Malbec in Mendoza, which can range from value-priced to ultra-premium. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay also perform well here.