Malbec, 'Appellation Gualtallary'

Score

96+

Score

97

Score

95

Score

92

"The 2019 Malbec Appellation from Gualtallary, Uco Valley was 75% aged in foudres for a year. Dark purple in hue. The substantial aromas feature chicken stock, herbs and hints of blackberry and ripe fruit. Medium bodied in the mouth with refined, reactive, slightly young tannins, the firm structure lends greater depth."

Score

97

"The 2019 Malbec Appellation Gualtallary comes from specific soils, two small three-hectare plots in the Cerros del Jaboncillo, where they find more caliche and limestone in Tupungato Winelands. They believe this place transmits the maximum expression of limestone to Malbec, giving a structured wine with fine-grained tannins with the wilderness from Gualtallary. It fermented in small concrete vats with indigenous yeasts at some 26 degrees Celsius for 20 days. Eighty-five percent of the volume matured in untoasted 3,500-liter French oak foudres for 20 months while the rest was kept in concrete. They sell it a little later than the Altamira because they feel Gualtallary needs a little more time in bottle; therefore, they are now offering the 2019 vintage, a very balanced wine that talks about the place where it was born. This is vibrant and expressive, with a complex nose and especially a lively palate with effervescent acidity and very fine-boned with elegant but firm tannins (they say Serralunga-like tannins). I find the recurring iron-like note of blood and fresh meat here too, intermixed with the wild flowers, herbs and spices. This has depth and complexity, and if Altamira is Barbaresco, Gualtallary is Barolo... 10,000 bottles were filled in January 2022."

Score

94

"The Appellation series shows the terroir's characteristics of subregions in Uco Valley. This one comes from limestone soils in Gualtallary. Violets, blackberry and cherry meet with hints of salt and oak spices on the nose. Well structured, the delicate palate features excellent acidity and chalky texture. Plum, blackberry and cherries merge with aniseed and tobacco. It's delicious now, but is ageworthy. Drink now through 2029. JESICA VARGAS"