Winemaker Notes
Altocedro Gran Reserva Malbec is a La Consulta-terroir-driven Malbec that is elegant with great depth.
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2017 Altocedro Gran Reserve Malbec is a world-class red wine. TASTING NOTES: This wine brings bold black fruit and anise to the fore. Enjoy is packed and layered palate with grilled beef ribs. (Tasted: June 1, 2021, San Francisco, CA)
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The elegant, complex and fresh 2017 Malbec Gran Reserva was produced with one hectare of extremely old vines. It's fermented with a small percentage of Semillon grapes in barriques that are rolled, then the wine matures in those barriques for some 24 months. The wine is still marked by the élevage in barrel with smoky and tasty aromas, and it's hard to get to the delicate floral notes in the nose. It's very long in the finish, with grainy tannins and a serious, dry finish. It needs time to finish absorbing the oak, but it has the stuffing to do so
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.
By far the largest and best-known winemaking province in Argentina, Mendoza is responsible for over 70% of the country’s enological output. Set in the eastern foothills of the Andes Mountains, the climate is dry and continental, presenting relatively few challenges for viticulturists during the growing season. Mendoza, divided into several distinctive sub-regions, including Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley, is the source of some of the country’s finest wines.
For many wine lovers, Mendoza is practically synonymous with Malbec. Originally a Bordelaise variety brought to Argentina by the French in the mid-1800s, here it found success and renown that it never knew in its homeland where a finicky climate gives mixed results. Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot and Pinot Noir are all widely planted here as well (and sometimes even blended with each other or Malbec). Mendoza's main white varieties include Chardonnay, Torrontés, Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon.