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
Pure, lush blackberries, blueberries, crushed violets, dried herbs and graphite. This is so vibrant and bright and shows the innate beauty of the fruit. The juicy, medium- to full-bodied palate unleashes firm, fruit tannins. Fine-grained and long. Delicious now, but can hold, too.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Hailing from 20-year-old vines planted at 2,300 meters above sea level, the 2022 Auténtico Malbec matured for 10 months in predominately stainless steel and a portion of concrete eggs for 10 months. It opens with a distinctly savory, meaty nose of cracked pepper, cured meats, dried spices and purple flowers, introducing an intensely rich, svelte and lush palate. The finish is solid, sturdy and intensely mineral driven.
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Wine Enthusiast
Structured and rich, this Malbec starts with lovely aromas of spices and herbs. The palate is intense and abundant in black fruit, delivering prunes and black cherries. Optimal acidity and firm tannins provide support and lead to a lingering leafy finish.
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.