2018 Altos Las Hormigas, Gualtallary Malbec, 6x750ml

2018 Altos Las Hormigas, Gualtallary Malbec, 6x750ml

Availability: In stock

Case size: 6 / Bottle size: 750ml

Duty Status
From £175.00

Critics Score: 97

Publication: Luis Gutierrez, Wine Advocate

Drinking Dates: 2021-2030

The site-specific 2018 Malbec Appellation Gualtallary comes from specific soils, two plots that they believe transmit the maximum expression of limestone to Malbec, giving a structured wine with fine-grained tannins but a little wild. The vines are on stony and gravelly soils with a high percentage of limestone and sand with around 3% clay at 1,300 meters in altitude. The grapes fermented in small concrete vats with indigenous yeasts at some 25 degrees Celsius for 15 days. It matured in untoasted 3,500-liter French oak foudres for 18 months and no less than 12 months in bottle. This comes from sandy soils and very low yields that give it chalkier tannins and a savage way. This has a slightly rustic touch, vertical and with some lightness. There's always a fresh touch of aromatic herbs (thyme and rockrose), with a textured palate and very tasty and clean flavors in the finish.

Producer

Altos Las Hormigas is based in Luján de Cuyo, the first officially recognised appellation in Mendoza and one of the region's premium vine growing areas. The estate is known as a Malbec specialist with a reputation as one of the country's top five producers of this particular variety. Alberto Antonini and fellow Tuscan, Antonio Morescalchi, were so impressed with the vineyards in the area around Mendoza, following their first trip to Argentina in 1995, that they persuaded a few friends to join with them in buying this estate. The estate covers 88 hectares with 56 in production.

Vineyards

100% of this Malbec was grown on the loamy soils of Gualtallary, lying at 1,300 metres above sea level. There, limestone-covered pebbles and gravels occupy 50-60% of the soil volume, with a high percentage of free calcium carbonate giving the wine a chalky, fresh minerality. A small percentage of clay (3%) allows the Malbec to express fresh fruit flavours.

Vinification

The grapes went through a double selection process and then released by gravity into small concrete tanks. Fermentation began with indigenous yeasts at a controlled temperature of 24°C and continued for 15 days. Pumping over was not carried out in order to minimise over-extraction of grape skin compounds. Instead, the cap was rotated by manual pigeage throughout the fermentation. The wine was matured in 3,500 litre untoasted foudres for 22 months, followed by 6-12 months in bottle.

Vintage

In the months leading up to harvest, the changing seasons brought quite variable weather. Some of the early days of summer reached temperatures of up to 40°C. However, the climate conditions during the harvest were immensely favourable, with very little rain, allowing the team to pick the grapes according to schedule. Regionally, 2018 came close to “normal” grape volumes, with balanced yields and healthy grapes of excellent quality and good concentration. This was truly a fantastic vintage.