ALH Malbec Clásico-en – Altos Las Hormigas

ALH MALBEC CLÁSICO

MENDOZA

Vintage Notes

This year was characterized by being very dry, with average rainfall below the historical records of Mendoza. The minimum temperatures were the highest in the last 10 years and the days were very hot, especially in the months prior to the harvest. Consequently, we had very concentrated grapes with great production potential. February brought cooler days, in which we optimized harvest logistics and managed to harvest the grapes at the optimal moment of maturity. At the beginning of March, all the grapes were already in the winery.

vineyard

Grapes from vineyards located 70% in Luján de Cuyo and 30% in Valle de Uco. The climate is semi-desert, with hot days and cool nights. We choose soils with very good drainage, a sandy-silt texture, with very deep root systems and with an enormous capacity for resistance to heat waves. We discard abundant superficial gravel soils, which increases the warming effect of the microclimate around the plant and can accelerate the maturation period.

Winemaking

Blend of 100% Malbec grapes harvested by hand. Use of selection table for cluster classification. Grapes from different vineyards are vinified separately before the final blend. Fermentation is done in separate stainless steel tanks, between 24°C and 28°C, for 10 days. Fermentation exclusively with native yeast. Each tank is tasted 3 times a day during the process to evaluate its progress. Matured in cement vats for a minimum of 9 months. It doesn’t pass for oak.

Tasting Notes

It has an intense ruby red color, with marked violet reflections. It is very expressive on the nose, with notes of red fruits, plum, cherry and raspberry. It also presents subtle notes of orange peel and jarilla, a typical plant from Mendoza. In the mouth it has a very fresh entry, in which the acidity accompanies throughout the journey that the wine takes in the mouth. A concentrated, juicy and very balanced wine, with a long and pleasant finish. Ideal to accompany classic red meats, pasta or grilled vegetables.

technical data

Vintage: 2020
Variety: Malbec
Region: Mendoza
Winemakers: Alberto Antonini, Attilio Pagli, Federico Gambetta, Ana Wiederhold
Bottle closure: DIAM
Alcohol: 13.5%
Total acidity: 5.16 g/l
pH: 3.78
Residual Sugar: 2.5 g/l

awards

91 pts Tim Atkin, MW
91 pts Descorchados Guide by Patricio Tapia
90+ pts Robert Parker
90 pts James Suckling
90 pts Vinous

ALH MALBEC CLÁSICO

MENDOZA

Vintage Notes

The season began with a dry and cool spring, which favored good fruit set in the vineyard. The summer was characterized by moderate temperatures and large amounts of rainfall in February and March, the months in which the harvest takes place. Towards the end of the harvest, rainfall decreased and temperatures did not have major peaks; they remained moderate and stable, maintaining the turgor of the berry and avoiding over-ripe descriptors. These conditions led to wines with great freshness and aromatic expression, high color intensities, elegant tannins and great structure.

vineyard

Grapes from vineyards located 80% in Luján de Cuyo and 20% in Valle de Uco. The climate is semi-desert, with hot days and cool nights. We choose soils with very good drainage, a sandy-silt texture, with very deep root systems and with an enormous capacity for resistance to heat waves. We discard abundant superficial gravel soils, which increases the warming effect of the microclimate around the plant and can accelerate the maturation period.

Winemaking

Blend of 100% Malbec grapes harvested by hand. Use of selection table for cluster classification. Grapes from different vineyards are vinified separately before the final blend. Fermentation takes place in separate stainless steel tanks, between 24°C and 26°C, for 15 days. Fermentation exclusively with native yeast. Each tank is tasted 2 times a day during the process to evaluate its progress. Matured in concrete vats for a minimum of 9 months. It doesn’t pass for oak.

Tasting Notes

Our Classic Malbec consolidates its style in this vintage: a wine of pleasure, fresh and fruity, which above all seeks to show its place of origin. With a characteristic deep red color with violet tints, the nose shows an honest expression of the variety, full of notes of eucalyptus, cassis, white pepper, plum, cardamom, orange peel and jarilla. It is a very prominent nose, very typical of the winery’s style. The mouthfeel is juicy and crisp, with a marked acidity that guides the wine in the mouth. Its tannins are friendly, slightly sucrose, and it has a long and fruity finish. Ideal to accompany classic red meats, pasta or grilled vegetables.

technical data

Vintage: 2021
Variety: 100% Malbec
Alcohol: 13.5%
Total Acidity: 6.00 g/l
PH: 3.72
Residual Sugar: 2.8 g/l
Bottle closure: DIAM
Bottle capacity: 750mL
Winemakers: Alberto Antonini, Attilio Pagli, Federico Gambetta, Ana Wiederhold
Vineyard Management: Juan José Borgnia, Victoria Maselli

awards

91 pts Tim Atkin, MW
91 pts James Suckling
90 pts Descorchados Guide by Patricio Tapia

ALH MALBEC CLÁSICO

MENDOZA

Vintage Notes

This was a shorter harvest than others, but no less intense. The season was marked by strong heatwaves, a year in which the physiological maturity was slightly delayed with respect to the organoleptic. Our work in the vineyard allowed us to obtain the desired alcohol and acidity just before the heat waves, preserving the fruit character and the tension of the skin of the berries. The season also had heavy rains, which threatened to delay the harvest. However, the rains stopped and gave us a window, just in time, to harvest our fruit with optimum ripeness and health. The cold of the last few weeks before harvest gave the grapes the necessary time to finish ripening and balance all their compounds. 2022 was a year with great concentrations, colors, and health, in which fruity and spicy notes prevailed.

vineyard

Grapes come from vineyards in Luján de Cuyo (70%) and Paraje Altamira, in the Uco Valley (30%), Mendoza. The region has a semi-desert climate with hot days and cool nights. We choose fresh soils, with good water drainage and a fine silt-sandy texture. These soils allow a deep development of the roots since their water retention capacity is great for the roots to expand and give the plants a better ability to resist heat waves, which are common during the summer in Mendoza. In this climate, we avoid soils with abundant superficial gravels, which increase the warming effect around the vine and might shorten the ripening season.

Winemaking

100% Malbec grapes harvested by hand. Fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks at 24°C (75°C) for 10 days, with 5% whole cluster. Fermentation exclusively with native yeast. Extraction was minimized during the process to avoid the typical notes of a warm vintage. The wine was then aged for 9 months in concrete vats. No oak aging.

Tasting Notes

This vintage shows a concentrated and lively color, ruby red with reddish hues. The nose is very typical of the winery’s style, with notes of plum, underbrush, gunpowder, black pepper, eucalyptus and pink pepper. With a fresh entry on the palate, fine acidity and balanced tannins stand out. It is a medium-structured, juicy wine. Ideal to pair with various dishes, from red meats to pasta or grilled vegetables.

technical data

Vintage: 2022
Variety: 100% Malbec
Alcohol: 13.4%
Total Acidity: 5.70 g/l
PH: 3.8
Residual Sugar: 2.50 g/l
Closure: DIAM Cork
Bottle Capacity: 750mL
Technical Team: Alberto Antonini, Pedro Parra, Federico Gambetta, Victoria Maselli.

awards

90 pts Tim Atkin, MW

Subscribe to our Newsletter