2007 Achaval-Ferrer Malbec Finca Altamira
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Tasting notes
(100% old-vines malbec) Saturated, bright dark ruby. Very floral nose features violet, jasmine and licorice. At once dry and perfumed in the mouth, with a light touch to the intense blackberry and violet flavors. Quite brisk and extremely young, with elevated acidity in need of time to harmonize. The note of exotic flowers carries through to the vibrant back end. Reportedly from a crop level of just 12 hectoliters per hectare.
Critic scores
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Jay S Miller, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
The 2007 Finca Altamira was sourced from a 14-acre, 80+-year-old vineyard with yields of 0.75 tons per acre. It was aged in new French oak for 15 months. Opaque purple/black in color, it has an entrancing aromatic array of pain grille, pencil lead, scorched earth, truffle, black cherry, and plum. Opulent on the palate but with a bit more elegance than the Bella Vista cuvee, it is already revealing complex flavors along with its considerable depth, richness, and length. It will continue to blossom for another 3-4 years and offer prime drinking from 2013 to 2022. Achaval Ferrer makes my short list of Argentina’s top producers of Malbec. My longevity estimates are conservative because these wines have no track record; my experience with wines this impeccably balanced and rich is that they will continue on for 25 years and more. Let’s hope purchasers can muster the patience to cellar some of these wines for the requisite time. I was also shown barrel samples of Achaval Ferrer’s 2008s. They look to be equally promising. Importer: TGIC Imports, Woodland Hills, CA; tel. (818) 225-5100