Winemaker Notes
Alta Malbec is a special wine, made with grapes from sixty-year-old vines. It presents slight hints of violet and a fruity nose that evokes blackberries, spices and tobacco. This Malbec finishes with a rich and lingering palate.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Wonderful purity of fruit with blackberries and flowers, such as violets and orchids. Medium to full-bodied with very fine tannins that melt nicely into the wine. Very drinkable now, but a couple of years of bottle age will make it even better. Try after 2024.
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Tasting Panel
Coffee and a slightly smoky tone beckon additional notes of black plum and Worcestershire. Glossy tannins take a slight grip while wet stone and a dusty middle add to a sensual mouthfeel. An overall great food companion.
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Wine Spectator
A ripe, concentrated but well-proportioned red, with rich tiers of berry and açaí joining violet and five-spice accents around mineral-tinged tannins. Reveals notes of dark chocolate and molasses.
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.