Sitting in a stunning mountainside nook, 6,560 feet above sea level, this comes from what's said to be the highest vineyard in the entire wine region of Mendoza. High-altitude vineyards like this tend to yield wines with well-developed flavors and aromas, restrained alcohol, tannin that is ripe and soft, along with balancing fresh acidity. And that's exactly what you get in this Malbec. Macerated long enough to have a glass-staining depth of color, it's silky and warming on the palate, with the distinct aroma and flavor of blackberry essence, background hints of a savory character with wild herb, and very subtle use of French oak. There's a stony dryness to the finish that leaves you with that soft, floral-like blackberry essence that lingers on. This is a wine that is not shy about its forward, primary fruit character, but does so in a way that is refreshing and clean. A perfect wine for a mixed grill! We suggest letting it open up in the glass for half an hour, and serving at cellar temperature (up to 60F).
This wine owes its origins to the wise decisions that owners Ariel and Belen Saud have made. They first planted a mere 10 acres of vineyards in 2008, half of it being Malbec, within their giant ranch of 100,000 acres in the Andes and its foothills. The next key to their success came in 2015 when they hired Alejandro Sejanovich and Jeff Mausbach, well-seasoned winemakers who worked together at the famous Catena winery, as well as having their own successful winery, TintoNegro. That pedigree is already delivering at this still-nascent winery!
TIM ATKIN MW 96 POINTS - "(13.5%) One of the great Malbecs of Argentina, this comes from a 13-year-old vineyard at 1,900 metres in Uspallata, which is fast establishing itself as a truly great site for the variety. Floral, peppery and intense, with notes of dill and wild thyme, herbal intensity, grippy plum and red berry fruit and granular tannins."
WINE ADVOCATE 95 POINTS - "The 2018 Malbec shows the floral and cool expression of Malbec in the high-altitude vineyards of Tunuyán, but it's from a different place than most of the wines from the zone, as Uspallata is far away from the rest of the vineyards, on the way to Chile at a higher altitude. The fermentation was with 70% full clusters, and the wine matured in 500-liter oak barrels for 15 months. It has an intense color and an intense nose, with fully developed flavors and aromas but with a restrained 13.5% alcohol and notable freshness. It has concentration and ripeness but with elegance and balance. It has a medium-bodied palate, focused and clean flavors and a remarkable finish. 5,000 bottles produced. Drink: 2021-2027."
This wine owes its origins to the wise decisions that owners Ariel and Belen Saud have made. They first planted a mere 10 acres of vineyards in 2008, half of it being Malbec, within their giant ranch of 100,000 acres in the Andes and its foothills. The next key to their success came in 2015 when they hired Alejandro Sejanovich and Jeff Mausbach, well-seasoned winemakers who worked together at the famous Catena winery, as well as having their own successful winery, TintoNegro. That pedigree is already delivering at this still-nascent winery!
TIM ATKIN MW 96 POINTS - "(13.5%) One of the great Malbecs of Argentina, this comes from a 13-year-old vineyard at 1,900 metres in Uspallata, which is fast establishing itself as a truly great site for the variety. Floral, peppery and intense, with notes of dill and wild thyme, herbal intensity, grippy plum and red berry fruit and granular tannins."
WINE ADVOCATE 95 POINTS - "The 2018 Malbec shows the floral and cool expression of Malbec in the high-altitude vineyards of Tunuyán, but it's from a different place than most of the wines from the zone, as Uspallata is far away from the rest of the vineyards, on the way to Chile at a higher altitude. The fermentation was with 70% full clusters, and the wine matured in 500-liter oak barrels for 15 months. It has an intense color and an intense nose, with fully developed flavors and aromas but with a restrained 13.5% alcohol and notable freshness. It has concentration and ripeness but with elegance and balance. It has a medium-bodied palate, focused and clean flavors and a remarkable finish. 5,000 bottles produced. Drink: 2021-2027."
Overall Rating
0 out of 5 Based on 0 Review
