ALH Appellation Gualtallary-en – Altos Las Hormigas

ALH APPELLATION GUALTALLARY

Gualtallary, Uco Valley. Mendoza.

harvest

Our vines showed great balance this season; all previous work in the vineyards paid off. The weather during the season registered the highest maximum temperatures as well as the lowest minimum, compared to former seasons. This wide range of temperatures translated into very fruity flavors in the wines. During spring there was little rainfall and no late frosts. In January there were two important heat waves, which are typical in Mendoza. These heatwaves contributed to concentration in the grapes that, with our early harvest philosophy aimed to obtain natural acidity, produced wines of excellent quality and elegance.

vineyard

100% of this Malbec stems from the loamy soils of Gualtallary, lying at 1,400 meters above sea level. The soil presents limestone-covered pebbles and gravels that occupy 50-70% of the soil volume, with a high percentage of free calcium carbonate in the profile granting to the wine a fresh minerality.

elaboration

The grapes go through a double selection process and are released by gravity into small concrete tanks. The alcoholic fermentation begins with indigenous yeasts at 26ºC for 20 days. In order to maintain a careful, gentle handling, pumping is not used; the cap is rotated by manual pigeage throughout the fermentation. 85% of the wine was matured in 3,500 ltr untoasted foudres for 20 months, while the remaining 15% was aged in concrete vats. There was a coarse filtration prior to bottling, to ensure no interference with the quality of the wine. Aged for 12 months in the bottle.

CATA’s notes

This is an explosive wine that fills all your senses. A brilliant Malbec with a deep ruby color, showing also rich violet hues. The nose is herbaceous and shows fruity and saline notes, with very present aromas of graphite, as well as thyme, blueberries, plums and violets. The complexity on the nose is also appreciated on the mouth. This is a structured and vertical wine, with firm tannins. It has a great grip on the palate and a long, fruity finish with mineral notes, typical of its place of origin: a vineyard with limestone soils in the heights of the Uco Valley.

technical data

Vintage: 2019
Variety: 100% Malbec
Closure: DIAM 30 Cork
Bottle Capacity: 750ml
Alcohol: 13.5%
Total Acidity: 5.62 g/l
pH: 3.77
Residual Sugar: 2.00 g/l
Winemakers: Alberto Antonini, Attilio Pagli, Ana Wiederhold
Vineyard Management: Juan José Borgnia, Victoria Maselli.

awards

97 pts Robert Parker
95 pts Tim Atkin, MW
95 pts James Suckling – Top 100 Wines of Argentina
95 pts Descorchados Guide by Patricio Tapia
95 pts Adega Magazine – Brazil
94 pts Wine Enthusiast Magazine

ALH APPELLATION GUALTALLARY

Gualtallary, Uco Valley. Mendoza.

harvest

The season began with a fresh and dry spring that favored good fruit set in the vines. During summer, temperatures were moderate, and in February and March – the months in which we pick up the grapes – we had bouts of rain. By the end of the season, rains lowered and temperatures were not very high; these last days were warm and stable, keeping the grapes turgid and avoiding over-ripeness. These conditions produced very fresh, highly aromatic wines, with intense colors, elegant tannins, and a great structure. Overall an excellent vintage for Altos Las Hormigas.

vineyard

elaboration

The grapes go through a double selection process and are poured by gravity into small concrete tanks. Alcoholic fermentation with indigenous yeasts at 26ºC for 15 days, with a total maceration of 25 days. In order to maintain a careful, gentle handling, pumping is not used; the cap is rotated by manual pigeage throughout the fermentation. 2/3 of the wine was matured in concrete vats with no epoxy, while the remaining 1/3 was aged in 3,500 ltr untoasted foudres. Total aging of 15 months. Then, a 10 months aging in the bottle, before the wines was released. There was a soft filtration prior to bottling.

CATA’s notes

The 2021 vintage of our Gualtallary Malbec can be perfectly described as intense and deep. It shows a ruby red color, with marked glints and a violet soul. On the nose, notes of crunchy plums and blueberries appear first. As the wine opens, we can feel aromas of flowers and herbs, such as violets and native plants. Fruity notes are also present, especially tangerine peel and kumquats. As in all our wines from this area, there is a very marked mineral note reminiscent of graphite. It is a vertical wine in the mouth; it travels through it like a spear and along the way leaves fruit and herbal notes. The tannins are chalky and rounded. The wine has a crisp, salty feel on the finish. It is a wine of high concentration, wild and of great purity of place.

technical data

Vintage: 2021
Variety: 100% Malbec
Closure: DIAM 30 Cork
Volumen: 750mL
Alcohol: 13.5%
Total Acidity: 5.6 g/l
pH: 3.7
Residual Sugar: 2.3 g/l
Winemakers: Alberto Antonini, Attilio Pagli, Federico Gambetta, Ana Wiederhold
Agronomists: Juan José Borgnia, Victoria Maselli.

awards

96 pts Descorchados Guide by Patricio Tapia
95 pts Tim Atkin, MW
95 pts James Suckling

ALH APPELLATION GUALTALLARY

Gualtallary, Uco Valley. Mendoza.

harvest

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

elaboration

The grapes go through a double selection process and are poured by gravity into small concrete tanks. Alcoholic fermentation with indigenous yeasts at 24°C/75°F for 15 days, with a total maceration of 25 days. Few, gentle daily movements, with great emphasis on balancing the tannins. 2/3 of the wine was matured in concrete vats with no epoxy, while the remaining 1/3 was aged in 3,500 ltr untoasted foudres. Total aging of 15 months. Then, a 10 months aging in the bottle, before the wines was released. There was a soft filtration prior to bottling.

CATA’s notes

This wine comes from a vineyard with its roots in communion with caliche (calcium carbonate conglomerate) which grant a special character to this Gualtallary Malbec. It shows a carmine red color with bright violet hues. It has a very distinctive, reductive nose, which on a first approach presents notes of gunpowder, graphite and cherry. As the wine opens up, layered aromas slowly appear, showing notes of jasmine, violets, cassis, rosehip, blueberry, pepperweed and jarilla flower. We recommend giving it a little time in the glass to get its full aromatic palette. The mouth is typical of a sandy wine, with a very marked upfront texture, chalky notes and a long finish, also showing some blueberry notes. It is an ideal wine to pair with an ossobucco casserole or stew, braised pork shoulder with fresh herbs, lamb brochettes and grilled vegetables with a creamy yogurt and mint sauce, as well as ravioli with red sauces and beet risotto.

technical data

Vintage: 2022
Variety: 100% Malbec
Closure: DIAM 30 Cork
Bottle Capacity: 750mL
Alcohol: 13.5%
Total Acidity: 5.32 g/l
pH: 3.73
Residual Sugar: 1.80 g/l
Technical Team: Alberto Antonini, Pedro Parra, Federico Gambetta, Victoria Maselli.

awards

94 pts Tim Atkin, MW
94 pts Vinous Media
94 pts Descorchados Guide by Patricio Tapia

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