2022 Altos Las Hormigas Jardin de Hormigas Meteora Malbec
£37.50
“Sourced from a single plot of limestone and gravel soils with deeper topsoils than the Los Amantes bottling, the 2022 Jardín de Hormigas Meteora offers a spectacular example of the purity that is possible from Altamira Malbec. A deep, three-dimensional bouquet of fresh violets, lavender, damp soil and black plums introduces a rich, svelte, seamless and vibrant palate with equal parts slow-moving intensity and high-toned lift. The finish is explosively intense yet quietly composed, displaying an assertive, confident power delivered with class and restraint. A weightless mineral grip floats throughout the wine, perfectly balanced by a taut core of perfectly ripe fruits.”
97+ Points, Matthew Luczy, The Wine Advocate
“This has a strikingly unique and aromatic nose, bursting with intense violets, underbrush and blue fruit. The palate is fresh and precise, with almost effervescent acidity and grippy tannins that give it tension and drive. There’s also a subtle meaty, savory element that adds depth. Distinctive and full of character, with a truly singular aromatic profile. This comes from four specific blocks in their Altamira vineyard. Fermentation was done in concrete without epoxy lining, with subtle extraction. It was then aged in the same vessel.”
97 Points, James Suckling
“This is such a light-footed and floral style of wine it almost makes you question if it is Malbec at all. But the focus here is on the expression of the mountain freshness you get in this beautifully biodiverse vineyard: notes of wild flowers, jarilla and brush herbs. The palate is fresh and focused, with fine-grained, chalk-powder tannins and a supple, incredibly fragrant finish. Coming from four different plots within Altos’ impressive Jardín de Hormigas vineyard, it is unoaked with pure fruit expression in all its glory.”
17.5+/20 Amanda Barnes MW for Jancis Robinson MW
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Product Description
Friends and business partners Alberto Antonini and Antonio Morescalchi first visited Mendoza in 1995 and were instantly impressed by the vineyards they discovered. Nearly three decades later, the estate they founded, Altos Las Hormigas, has gone from being a youthful dream to one of the country’s leading producers.
Alberto and Antonio work very closely with Pedro Parra (widely regarded as the world’s leading expert on soil and vineyard mapping) to identify the best vineyard sites to grow their grapes. As a result, they have discovered outstanding sites across Mendoza and aim to show the distinct character of each through their wines. From Luján de Cuyo they obtain fine tannins, concentration and a dark purple colour, whereas the calcareous, high-elevation sites of Vistaflores, Altamira and Gualtallary each bring distinctive perfumes and mouth-filling textures.
In 2020, Federico Gambetta was appointed winemaker and by 2021, he was producing 100-point wines, propelling this highly respected winery into a new era. A combination of biodynamic farming, minimal intervention in the winery, as well as Alberto and Antonio’s relentless experimentation and desire to produce Argentina’s best wines, has given Altos its reputation as one of the country’s leading Malbec specialists.
Located in Altamira, the `Jardín de Hormigas` vineyard is certified organic with 40% of its 32 hectares planted with native flora, ensuring biodiversity corridors grow among the vines. This vineyard is separated into 22 plots which were mapped and analysed by Pedro Parra when the vineyard was planted in 2017. Each plot (on average less than 1.5 hectares in size) is farmed and harvested individually, producing incredible wines with unique personalities across 23 different soil types. `Meteora` is a wine sourced from four plots within the ‘Jardín de Hormigas’ vineyard. Made from 100% Malbec, it is vinified in concrete tanks with 15% whole cluster, before ageing in concrete for 12 months. Originally intended to offer a more straightforward style of Malbec from this vineyard, the final wine is quite the opposite, offering a unique, diverse and complex expression.
Additional Information
| ABV | 13.5% |
|---|---|
| Bottle Size | Bottle 75cl |
| Colour | Red |
| Country | Argentina |
| Critic Score | 97+/100 |
| Drink until | 2042 |
| Style | Still |
| Sweetness | Dry |
| Vintage | 2022 |
