Wine Advisor
Achaval Ferrer, Finca Altamira Malbec 2006
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2006 Finca Altamira has a fresh bouquet with notes of red berries, dried orange peel and dried violets that blossoms with aeration, offering up a cheeky eucalyptus note and morphing into a mature Heitz Martha’s Vineyard. The palate is medium-bodied with fleshy ripe tannins. There are layers of slightly earthy red fruit interlaced with ash, white pepper, undergrowth and graphite. I would have preferred a little more length but there is impressive tautness and focus. Drink now-2024. Importer: TGIC Imports, Woodland Hills, CA; tel. (818) 225-5100; and Corney & Barrow (UK)
Reviewed by: Jay S Miller
The 2006 Finca Altamira is deep crimson-colored with a complex aromatic array of wood smoke, spice box, mineral, espresso, black cherry, and black raspberry. Structured, opulent, and long, it will develop in the cellar for another 3-5 years and provide prime drinking from 2012 to 2021. In a brief period of time, Achaval Ferrer has become one of Argentina’s benchmark wineries. A visit to the winery in April 2008 was eye-opening. They export 85% of their production, 40% to the USA. The newest releases will not disappoint. Importer: TGIC Importers, Woodland Hills, CA; tel. (800) 924-0300; fax (818) 225-5111
About the Producer
Achaval Ferrer is an Argentinian wine producer based in the Uco Valley, of the famous high-altitude wine region of Mendoza. The estate is known for its high-quality wines made predominantly from Malbec, usually with the addition of other classic Bordeaux varieties. Achaval Ferrer uses a low intervention approach in both their vineyards and winery. The vines are low performing with deep roots, resulting in extremely low yields. In the winery there is almost no temperature control during the fermentation – nor is there any clarification fining or filtering of the wines before they are bottled. There are three ranges in the Achaval Ferrer portfolio; the Mendoza, the Fincas and the Quimera. The Mendoza is a range of varietal wines from the Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon varieties. The Fincas are single-vineyard expressions from the three vineyards that the company owns. The Quimera is the pinnacle from Achaval Ferrer and is a Malbec-dominant, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot blend, with the proportions changing dependent on vintage. Recently the company has added a sweet fortified wine to their collection as well as an olive oil. Following the establishment in 1998, the company purchased a rare, north-facing vineyard with the majority of the vineyards in Mendoza on slopes facing either east or south. This vineyard became the source for the first wine in Argentina to be awarded five stars from Decanter Magazine and was a fundamental turning point in the estate's history. Today, Finca Bella Vista and Finca Mirador and Finca Altamira form a trio of single vineyards owned by the company with similar north-facing aspects. These are utilized to produce the Fincas range.
