2014 Catena Malbec Paraje Altamira Appellation Mendoza

Showing the freshness and minerality that's often a feature of Altamira wines, this is the finest and most focused of the Catena appellation Malbecs. Sappy and tangy, with sculpted tannins and scented plum, damson and blackberry fruit underpinned by a chalky bite. 2016-22.

Restrained on the nose with vibrant blueberries enhanced by a delicate spicy note. Smooth palate, juicy, with fine grained tannins and a chalky sensation, bursting with bright red and dark fruits lingering nicely.

The 2014 Appellation Paraje Altamira Malbec is sourced from a single vineyard in the new official Paraje Altamira appellation, where the soils are rich in limestone. The grapes from this vineyard planted in 1997 with a massale selection from the old vineyard used for the Lunlunta fermented in equal parts in stainless steel and open top 225-liter oak barrels where the wine is kept for around one year before it's blended, not necessarily in a 50/50 proportion. This is surprisingly fresh for a vintage like 2014 and with the telltale chalky tannins that are making the wines from Altamira famous. 9,000 bottles produced.

Good dark red-ruby. Sappy, smoky nose combines redcurrant, flinty minerals, musky underbrush and spices. Less sweet than the Appellation La Consulta bottling but broader, showing less red than black fruit character along with a complicating hint of mushroom. This wine started off a bit underwhelming but exploded with aeration, showing building sweetness and finishing with suave, ripe tannins and excellent length. Winemaker Vigil describes this wine as in a Chinon style but this is denser and sweeter than that.

Saftig duft med et diskret blækket krydderi og med pæn detaljerigdom, markant mineralitet og let floralitet. Blodrig, personlig og glat vin med velvalgt blød tanninstruktur og god saftighed i eftersmagen. Tæt og eksotisk med velpoleret frugt og med sit helt eget udtryk. Tiltalende.