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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Drinking window: Drink between 2010 and 2011 (based on 6 user opinions) |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 86.1 pts. and median of 87 pts. in 78 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by Harley1199 on 2/12/2019: By the glass. Light with predominant aromas of red berries. Tasty with hints of licorice and wood. Very short. Good for what it is.
Por copas. Ligero con predominantes aromas a bayas rojas. Sabrosa con recuerdos a regaliz y a madera. Muy corta. Buena para lo que es. (1979 views) | | | Tasted by Lublu on 4/28/2012 & rated 88 points: Cor violeta intensa e viva. Brilhante. Notas de baunilha e flores do campo. Na boca chocolate e pimenta suave. Taninos gentis. Final medianamente longo. Representa o malbec argentino de forma singular. (8033 views) | | | Tasted by Evil Homer on 1/9/2012 & rated 86 points: Very nice and great for the price. (7810 views) | | | Tasted by Bridgebain on 12/19/2011 & rated 80 points: Was very tight upon opening but after some time settled down and was "OK". (7827 views) | | | Tasted by Zuperdaave on 11/6/2011 & rated 90 points: Delicious. Dark purple color. Smoke, cedar on the nose. Lush, soft flavors of mulch, cherries. Pleasant finish. As always, an extraordinary value, and a great treat. (8716 views) | | | Tasted by Simon_Perrotte on 10/30/2011 & rated 88 points: Very good for the price, must have everyday wine. (7879 views) | | | Tasted by cfriedberg on 10/18/2011 & rated 81 points: Deep purple color. Nice nose with hints of cherry, plum and chocolate. And while it's an easy drinker, not much of the nose comes through in the taste. A bit acidic, not fruity at all. But by tannic. Ok overall (3636 views) | | | Tasted by heindoc on 10/3/2011 & rated 87 points: Above the crowd for Malbec at this price point (3898 views) | | | Tasted by appleforest on 9/10/2011 & rated 87 points: I keep wanting to like Malbec, but find it to be a bit too tannic without enough else going on to make it seem balanced (my preference is CA cabs). This one was noticeably different from most of the others - tannins were much softer, and a lot more interesting flavors. (3819 views) | | | Tasted by redknife on 9/4/2011 & rated 86 points: Not bad for the price, but previous vintages have been better. (3778 views) | | | Tasted by RussK on 7/17/2011 & rated 88 points: RUSSK HappyWine tasting with Pablo (3986 views) | | | Tasted by Zuperdaave on 7/14/2011 & rated 90 points: Delicious. As always, a lush, full-bodied wine. Cherries on the nose, nice finish of cherry and blackberry. Excellent value. (4271 views) | | | Tasted by Chateau du Fey 1994 on 6/1/2011 & rated 87 points: Chewy tannins. Tobacco taste. Nice nose. Great value. (4420 views) | | | Tasted by andrewstevenson.com on 5/28/2011 & rated 88 points: D. Byrne Summer Wine Tasting (Clitheroe): Lovely deep, rich, black fruit on the nose. Very pleasant palate. A good food wine. (5569 views) | | | Tasted by Zuperdaave on 5/15/2011 & rated 90 points: Very good. Deep purple color. Slow, ample legs. Plump cherries on the nose. Minerals, fruit (blackberry, cherry), and tobacco flavor. Long, satisfying finish. Amazing as always! (5100 views) | | | Tasted by Chateau du Fey 1994 on 5/1/2011 & rated 87 points: good value but I think I prfer the 08. This one seemed to lack some acidity. (4784 views) | | | Tasted by Mike Kopanski on 4/23/2011 & rated 87 points: Giant Wine Sale & Tasting Cellar on Greene Columbia,SC 4/23/2011 (Cellar on Greene, Columbia, SC): A little rustic, but all in all a pretty decent Malbec. I like the lead pencil on the nose that continues through th the palate. Maybe even a touch of violets on the nose. Very typical high altitude, Argentinian dark fruit tones, like blueberry and blackberry. Almost complex. Medium bodied, and easy on the palate with just enough tannins to bring some complexity. Not bad. (5417 views) | | | Tasted by will2wine on 4/21/2011 & rated 86 points: Juicy, yet clean and restrained. Very good for the price and production level. (5028 views) | | | Tasted by bowmanbc on 4/20/2011 & rated 84 points: bumped the score a tad - little spicy, juicy (4738 views) | | | Tasted by luisdoppey@yahoo.com on 4/18/2011 & rated 82 points: Nice wine for the price. Some spicinees to it (4914 views) | | | Tasted by Zuperdaave on 3/27/2011 & rated 90 points: Delicious. Actually close to Delicious!". Well-structured, serious red wine. Amazing value, consistent pleaser... (5164 views) | | | Tasted by mdefreitas on 3/21/2011 & rated 90 points: A bit more stucture showing through, with deep blackberry, tar and grilled meat notes. Quite like a Cote du Rhone. Showed better on the second day. Needs a nice marbled cut of meat. (5296 views) | | | Tasted by JamF on 3/20/2011 & rated 85 points: Nice smell and plenty of fruit. Everything seemed to be in the right places except that it was very viscous or creamy, almost artifical and I couldn't figure out what has been done to it. Less than medium finish. (5111 views) | | | Tasted by grenshiz on 3/15/2011 & rated 88 points: Cherry, spice and a hint of chocolate, medium finish (5011 views) | | | Tasted by Ben Christiansen on 2/28/2011: It not bad, its not great, Its $9. (5150 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| Altos Las Hormigas Producer website
U.S. Importer (Addt'l Info)
ALTO LAS HORMIGAS
This is a very well known winery. The estate's total area is 206 hectares, 45 of which planted. The only varietal planted is Malbec, clones are obtained from careful field selection. The vineyards have a density of over 4,000 plants per hectare, and were planted between 1996 and 1999, free of root stock and raised with the guyot method. At the heart of the property stands the 2,000 square meter cellar with its capacity for 16,000 hectolitres plus approximately 900 hectolitre capacity in small oak. Attilio Pagli and Alberto Antonini are the winemakers.Malbec Varietal character (Appellation America)
One of the traditional “Bordeaux varietals”, Malbec has characteristics that fall somewhere between Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. A midseason ripener, it can bring very deep color, ample tannin, and a particular plum-like flavor component to add complexity to claret blends. Malbec is a finicky vine whose fruit is prone to rot and mildew in the cool, damp coastal climate of Bordeaux. But ask a Bordelais grower why there’s no Malbec around, and you’ll more likely get a dismissive shrug and sniff than a viticultural analysis. It is known in much of France as Côt, and, in Cahors, also as Auxerrois. There are in fact hundreds of local synonyms, since Malbec at one time was widely planted all over the country. Sensitivity to frost and proclivity to shatter or coulure (a disease that results in premature fruit drop) is the primary reason that Malbec has become a decreasing factor in most of France. Although plantings in the Medoc have decreased by over twothirds since the mid-twentieth century, Malbec is now the dominant red varietal in the Cahors area. The Appellation Controlée regulations for Cahors require a minimum content of 70%. Malbec is also planted in Chile, and there’s relatively little and recent acreage in California and Australia. It is usually blended with other red varietals in these countries. But Malbec truly comes into its own in Argentina, where it is the major red varietal planted. Much of the Malbec vines there were transplanted from Europe prior to the outbreak of phylloxera and most is therefore ungrafted, on its own roots. Sadly, over the years the bug infested Argentina, too, and vineyards are being replanted on resistant rootstock. Happily, the vines thrive in the arid climate of the Mendoza region in the foothills of the Andes. Made in the context of this South American nation’s Spanish and Italian heritage, it produces a delicious wine that has almost nothing in common with Bordeaux except the color. Argentines often spell it “Malbeck” and make wines from it that are slightly similar in flavor to those made in Europe, but with softer, lusher structure, more like New World Merlot. Another difference is that where French examples are usually considered short-lived, Argentine Malbecs seem to age fairly well. Successful Argentine Malbec growers claim that, in order to develop full maturity and distinction, Malbec needs “hang time” even after sugar levels indicate ripeness. Otherwise, immature Malbec can be very “green” tasting, without its characteristic notes of plum and anise. Malbec in Argentina has come to be appreciated for a spicy white pepper characteristic, the aroma of violets, and sweet, jammy fruit. It is a seductive wine that is typically warm and generous in the mouth, with plenty of flesh, and very appealing when young. Almost always producing a ripe and fruity, even plummy wine, Malbec can take oak aging or show well without it; it’s juicy and quaffable when young but can benefit from aging, developing an intriguing complexity with time in the bottle. It can range in price from as little as $7 to more than $75. The true potential of Argentine Malbec, and indeed in the entire spectrum of Argentine wines, is demonstrated by the fact that many of the world’s most renowned winemakers have come to Argentina to make wine. Both the legendary California winemaker Paul Hobbs, and Michel Rolland of Bordeaux, one of the world’s most famous winemakers, have created very high-end Malbecs. It may be the Italian component in the country’s mixed Latin family tree that fosters the fact that Malbec is an exceptional companion with a broad range of food. Its well-balanced fruit-and-acid profile makes it a natural with rare beef (bear in mind that Argentina is cattle country), but it’s just as good with simple fare from burgers to fried chicken. With its natural balance, good pairings include: cajun cuisine, calzones, cannelloni with meat, poultry, vegetable couscous, steak creole, Greek cuisine, deviled eggs, hummus, Indian cuisine, leg of lamb, Mexican cuisine with meat, pâté, spinach soufflé, and hearty pasta. For cheeses, think of harder styles that are either waxed or oiled, such as Parmigiano Reggiano, Ricotta Salata, Romano, Asiago, Pont l’Eveque, Gruyere, Manchego, Cantal, Comte, old Gouda, old Cheddar, Baulderstone, Beaufort, Leicester, aged Chesire, Chevre Noir, Wensleydale, Tilsit, Iberico, Mahon, Roncal, and Mizithra.Argentina Wines of Argentina
Argentina has been making wine since the 1500s, tracing its wine heritage back to Spain, France and, perhaps surprisingly, Italy. Italian immigration is second only to Spanish in Argentine culture, and the flavors of Italy show up strongly in the nation’s wine, food and cultural tradition. Historically, Argentina has kept much of its wine consumption at home, drinking most of the wine it makes. But we are now seeing more very serious Argentine wines north of the border, and Malbec is leading the movement. The wine-making region in Argentina ranges between the 22° and 42° South latitude. It spreads at the foothills of the Andean mountain range along over 2,400 km; from the province of Salta to the province of Río Negro, with a variety of climates and soils that makes each region a unique land. In general terms, the areas dedicated to vine cultivation are dry and arid with a low level of rain and humidity, determining factor as regards grape health. Abundant sunny days and thermal amplitude favor a good maturity and concentration of aroma and color in the grain. Soils are deep, permeable and poor in organic matter, decisive qualities at the time of obtaining good wine. Due to the low rain regime, irrigation is necessary. Water comes from the Andean range thaw, descending in the shape of rivers to become channels or ditches. Undoubtedly, the combination of these factors turns Argentina into a veritable oasis for the highest quality wine-making. Nevertheless, there is still a long way to go. Wine-making in Argentina, at the level that it achieves today, has a young history that goes back to a little more than 10 years ago. Technological progress, investment and some farsighted businessmen enabled a determining transformation. The province of Mendoza is the most traditional area in the viticultural industry, and is diverse enough to be divided into zones, according to their significantly different weather, height and soil characteristics. These include the Northern Zone, which is suitable for fruity whites and young reds, at a height from 600 to 700m; the Eastern Zone, with a height ranging from 600 to 700m, and the most productive zone in the province; the Uco Valley, a zone of colder weather and higher altitudes (between 800 and 1,400m over sea level); San Rafael, with heights ranging from 450 to 800m; and the High Zone of the Mendoza River, with heights ranging from 800 to 1,100m over sea level and various microclimates, this is the zone where almost all noble varieties have easily become adapted. It is a region that is remarkably well-suited to vine culture, protected from the Pacific’s cooling influence by the Andes and enjoying a long summer of cool nights and warm days, with a dry summer climate but plenty of water available from the region’s rivers. Malbec in particular is outstanding from this area, and it has clearly emerged as the star, the darling of both consumers and critics.Mendoza Wines of Mendoza |
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