Wine Advisor
Achaval Ferrer, Finca Altamira Malbec 2007
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Jay S Miller
The 2007 Finca Altamira should prove to be as good as the 2006, perhaps better. It already offers remarkable complexity in its alluring bouquet, layers of ripe fruit, savory flavors, and great length. (Price not yet determined) 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
Reviewed by: Jay S Miller
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
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.
