Winemaker Notes
This wine is the clear expression of limestone soils in the Uco Valley. It has a deep ruby red color with violet hues; it is lively and attractive. The nose is complex, expressive and aromatic. This is a vertical Malbec with very fine grain tannins and velvety texture. The palate shows abundant ripe fruit notes and its oak aging only appears subtly in the finish. A long and persistent wine that will open in the glass.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2015 Malbec Reserve was produced with grapes from limestone-rich soils in Altamira and Gualtallary. It fermented with indigenous yeasts and matured in untoasted 3,500-liter oak foudres for 22 months. This is always a serious and mineral wine, a Malbec that overdelivers, especially in a cool year like this, with the verticality from Gualtallary that is the majority of the blend. It's like an upgraded version of the Terroir Valle de Uco bottling, even if it's from a slightly riper year. But Altos Las Hormigas is one of the first to harvest in Mendoza. The price is just unbelievable. 28,167 bottles produced. It was bottled in August 2017.
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.