Winemaker Notes
Deep red color with violet hues. The nose expresses a red and black fruit character with notes of blackberry, cherry, plum complemented by fresh herbal and violet notes. Juicy, with a lively acidity, mineral texture and elegant tannins. It has a long finish.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2020 Aluvional Gualtallary is more floral and expressive, a little more exuberant than the 2019 I tasted next to it. In 2020, they harvested some 10 days earlier than in 2019 (they started in February!), and the wines finished with similar alcohol levels (14%) and even with a slightly lower pH and higher acidity in 2020, so with very good freshness. They fermented with some 30% to 50% of stems in the vinification (they use grapes from three different vineyards that are vinified separately, all in the Monasterio part of Gualtallary) and matured the wine in concrete. This is very young, and the palate reveals the inner notes of thyme and rockrose, the violets and the small berries. The texture is akin to liquid chalk, a mineral and austere wine, with very fine tannins and a long, dry finish.
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Vinous
The 2020 Malbec Aluvional Gualtallary from the Uco Valley was fermented and aged in concrete vats. Purple in the glass. The enticing primary nose presents thyme, violet, balsamic and ripe plum aromas. Potent and juicy with chalky, finely-grained tannins, the fleshy palate lingers at length before the grapefruit-inflected finish. The 2020 is a terroir-driven red with the intensity and restrained character often found in high-altitude vineyards.
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Wine Spectator
Redolent with deep violet tones mixed with mountain herb, macerated cherry and plum notes, showing traces of marinated olive underneath. All the flavors are buoyed by fresh, vibrant, minerally acidity that fills out the well-structured finish. Best from 2025 through 2035.
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.