Wine Advisor
Achaval Ferrer, Finca Altamira Malbec 2013
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Luis Gutiérrez
Compared with the 2012, the 2013 Malbec Finca Altamira feels so high-pitched and loaded with aromas of distilled violets and lilies intermixed with licorice, raspberries, wild strawberries and some chalky minerality with no oak at all. The palate combines juiciness with the electricity of the sharp acidity, ultra-refined tannins and a minerality that sticks to your teeth. This is incredibly supple, mineral, almost salty and amplified by the acidic fruit character. As with many of the Achával-Ferrer wines, this is the best Altamira I've tasted. Super! Some 10,000 bottles produced of this superb, showy Malbec from chalky soils.
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.
