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This wine is currently unavailable, the vintage 2020 is available

Altos Las Hormigas Malbec Appellation Altamira 2018 750ml

size
750ml
country
Argentina
region
Cuyo
appellation
Mendoza
subappellation
Uco Valley
WA
96
JS
93
Additional vintages
2020 2019 2018 2017
WA
96
Rated 96 by Wine Advocate
The 2018 Malbec Appellation Altamira is a wine produced in search of the limestone expression of Paraje Altamira in a year they deemed more normal than previous ones despite early frost in the zone that lowered yields and a heat wave in the beginning of the summer, but February was optimal and without rain, and they picked grapes with full ripeness and aromatic and flavor components and good natural acidity, avoiding over-ripeness. The wine, fermented in concrete with indigenous yeasts and matured in untoasted 3,500-liter French oak foudres for 18 months, resulted in 13.6% alcohol and good freshness despite not having very high acidity. The grapes were sourced from alluvial terraces at 1,200 meters in altitude. The terraces were created by the Tunuyán River, where there is 85% stones and gravel covered by limestone and some silt and sand that provide red fruit freshness and a delicate and elegant balance. It's floral and gentle, with the mild effect of the big rocks in the wines, medium-bodied, with energy and some lightness from plants that tend to yield well. In the future, this should come from their own vineyard in Altamira. 4,600 bottles were filled in September 2019, and the wine is kept in bottle for at least 12 months before it's sold. ... More details
Image of bottle
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Altos Las Hormigas Malbec Appellation Altamira 2018 750ml

SKU 848766
Out of Stock
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More Details
green grapes

Varietal: Malbec

The purple Malbec variety grapes which now grow all over the Old and New Worlds had their origins in France, where they are one of the few grape varieties allowed to be used in the highly esteemed blended wines of Bordeaux. However, it is perhaps the New World Malbec wines which have attracted the most attention in recent years, as they thrive in hot southern climates in ways they cannot in their native country, where the damp conditions leave them highly vulnerable to rot. Malbec grapes are renowned for their high tannin content, resulting in full-bodied red wines packed with ripe, plummy flavors and held in their characteristically dark, garnet colored liquid. In many countries, Malbec is still used primarily as a varietal for blending, as it adds a great level of richness and density to other, lighter and thinner varietals. However, single variety Malbec wines have been greatly on the rise in recent years, with some fantastic results and big, juicy flavors marking them out as a great wine for matching with a wide range of foods.
barrel

Region: Cuyo

The region of Cuyo has been internationally associated with fine Argentinian wine for several decades, and has a wine history which stretches back centuries to the time of the original Spanish settlers, who sought areas in which to plant imported grape vines for sacramental wine production. The region contains several of Argentina's most renowned and widely appreciated provinces, including the Mendoza, La Rioja, San Juan and San Luis, and the mountainous nature of this arid region provides an ideal environment for vineyard cultivation. As the mighty Desaguadero River snakes its way between the Andes, it deposits plenty of important minerals in the soil, which allow grape varietals closely associated with the Argentinian wine industry – such as Malbec – to grow to a perfect level of ripeness. As such, even in the driest areas of the Cuyo region, flavorful and fruit-forward wines are produced in impressive amounts.
fields

Country: Argentina

As the world's fifth largest producer of wine, after France, Italy, Spain and the United States, Argentina has plenty to offer the international wine market in regards to both quantity and quality. Despite this being the case for several decades now, it has only been since the end of the twentieth century that the Argentinian wine industry has really begun to up their game when it comes to the methods and techniques required to produce world class wines, which are both representative of their country and region of origin, and which stand alone as complex, interesting and delicious wines to drink. As Argentina became a serious contender in the international wine market, wineries previously concerned primarily with high volumes began to change their priorities, and formerly struggling small bodegas and independent wineries began to find success. Nowadays, well crafted wines from smaller vineyards in Argentina are being lauded as some of the finest in the world, and the country is starting to reap the benefits of its heritage, which include some very old vines, and up to four centuries of experience in wine production.