2009 Finca Altamira Malbec
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Tasting notes
(from 80+-year-old malbec vines planted at 3,400 feet, and a yield of just 12 hectoliters per hectare): Saturated, bright medium ruby. Deep, pure aromas of blackberry, violet, minerals and bitter chocolate complicated by a loamy nuance. Suave and intense but youthfully imploded today; not at all a thick style even if it's utterly seamless from day one. Strong acidity spine gives this infant a powerful backbone for aging, but there's little in the way of early sweetness today. After three days in the recorked bottle, this was an essence of blackberry, showing almost painful fruit intensity and remaining remarkably fresh. A superb cellaring candidate.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jay S Miller, Wine Advocate
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Even better is the brooding 2009 Finca Altamira sourced from vines over 80 years of age with yields of 0.75 tons per acre. Purple/black in color with a spectacular aromatic array of black fruits and spices that jump from the glass, this rich, opulent, beautifully proportioned Malbec sets the bar for what can be achieved with old vines, low yields, and craftsmanship in the cellar. Achaval-Ferrer, under the direction of CEO Santiago Achaval and winemaker Roberto Cipresso, stands at the summit of Argentina wine producers. The benchmark Finca bottlings are limited (under 1000 cases produced of each) so the best way to discover the pleasures of Achaval-Ferrer are through the entry-level Malbec of which there are 12,000 cases. Achaval-Ferrer is about to launch a new cuvee called Tempous, a blend of the three single vineyards. There are only 75 cases (3 barrels) produced of each vintage, so fans of the winery, be prepared to go to war to get your hands on a few bottles. The wines are fermented with indigenous yeasts, aged for 18 months in new French oak, and bottled without fining or filtration. Importer: TGIC Imports, Woodland Hills, CA; tel. (818) 225-5100
Even better is the brooding 2009 Finca Altamira sourced from vines over 80 years of age with yields of 0.75 tons per acre. Purple/black in color with a spectacular aromatic array of black fruits and spices that jump from the glass, this rich, opulent, beautifully proportioned Malbec sets the bar for what can be achieved with old vines, low yields, and craftsmanship in the cellar. Dec 2011, www.robertparker.com