Winemaker Notes
This wine is intense in color and full of aromas like cherries, blackberries, figs, cassis and cloves with elegant spice and mineral notes. The mouth is crisp and robust with a high concentration of ripe and round tannins.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Blackberries, dark spices, oyster shells and graphite with a lift of violets. A full-bodied malbec with round, polished tannins. Very primary with plush fruit. Showing complexity without referring to oak. Really delicious now.
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Tasting Panel
Aromas of espresso bean, licorice, dried rose petal, and earth. Powerful, deep, penetrating notes of red- and black-toned fruit mingle with chalky minerals, clove, and black pepper. Great energy and drive.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2021 Auténtico Malbec feels very young and a bit raw, like it needs a little more time. This unoaked wine was produced as an homage to the ancestral style of the zone (and to the winery when it belonged to the previous owner, the Dávalos family). It has the intensity and power of Salta and the vines at 2,300 meters in altitude, and it opens up nicely in the glass if you wait a bit. It has very good acidity, which makes it very balanced. Fifteen percent of the volume matured in concrete egg for 10 months and the rest in stainless steel. Best after 2024.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2021 Colome Autentico Malbec is rustic, earthy, and genuine. TASTING NOTES: This wine exhibits aromas and flavors of dried earth, herbs, and chalky notes. Try it with a savory lamb stew. (Tasted: June 24, 2023, San Francisco, CA)
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Wine Spectator
Suggestively brooding on the nose, showing molasses, toasted herb and ripe berry aromas, yet the core displays a lively mix of raspberry and plum, with generous spice and mineral details clinging to the finish around round tannins. Drink now through 2030. 5,400 cases made, 1,500 cases imported.
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.
The Salta region in northern Argentina is home to world’s highest vineyards. Near the town of Payogasta, the Colomé Altura Máxima vineyard is planted at 10,206 feet in elevation.
Salta is part of the Calchaquí Valley, which benefits from more than 300 days of sun per year, subjecting its vines to considerable ultraviolet radiation. The valley experiences strong high altitude winds, even in the “lower” vineyards, which are planted at 5,413 feet. Because of these elevations and resulting extreme conditions, vines produce lower yields and thicker-skinned grapes, resulting in concentrated, aromatic and well-structured wines.
In a truly unique region, the highly aromatic variety, Torrontes, thrives; intense sun exposure allows full ripening, while cooling winds maintain the grapes’ acidity levels and phenolic balance.
Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Bonarda, Syrah, and, particularly, Tannat have the most potential among reds.
Upscale hotels, beautiful colonial architecture, a majestic Andean backdrop and impressive food and wine make the area attractive among tourists as well.
Salta is the fourth most important Argentine wine-producing region after Mendoza, San Juan, and La Rioja. Its oldest vineyards were planted in 1862.