Altocedro Reserva Malbec 2012
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James
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Enthusiast -
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Spectator
Product Details
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Winemaker Notes
Grape Variety: 100% Malbec
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A beautiful malbec with crushed dark berries and flowers on the nose that follow through to a full body, firm and silky tannins and lots of beautiful fruit and pretty vanilla and coffee undertones. A silky and sexy red that is delicious now but will deliver many years of enjoyment.
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Wine Enthusiast
Inky, black aromas of asphalt, licorice and shoe polish hit hard, and the alcohol is immediately evident. This is gigantic in the mouth and carries some burn, but flavors of coffee, chocolate cake and wild berry are exotic and finish firm and generous, with multiple layers. Drink this ripe Malbec through 2018.
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Wine Spectator
Very smoky and ripe, with concentrated dark plum and mocha flavors backed by medium-grained tannins and intense brick and hot stone notes. Asian spice details ooze on the richly textured finish. A powerhouse style. Drink now through 2018.
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The winery of Altocedro is located in the growing region of La Consulta, Valle de Uco, Mendoza. This is one of the premier Argentine growing zones. Limited production with sustainable growing practices make the Altocedro wines a cult-type wine in Argentina. Winemaker Karim Mussi Saffie focuses on producing terroir-driven wines.
All harvesting, sorting, and crushing are done in individual batches by hand using no machinery in the process. The vines range up to 70 years of age, with only 1,600 plants per acre, and strict harvesting of only 1.2 kg of grapes per vine. The extract is done with a gravity flow system developed at the winery over 100 years ago.
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.