2020 Appellation Altamira Uco Valley Malbec, Altos Las Hormigas

• Style: High-altitude Malbec, mineral-driven, fine-grained structure
• Taste: Black cherry, plum, eucalyptus, stone minerality, juicy freshness
• Food: Grilled lamb, beef, game bird, hearty roasts
• Occasion: Date night, gifting, cellar investment
• Serve: Room temperature, 16–18°C, decant 30 minutes

In the Glass — Tasting Notes

Deep ruby with violet rim, this wine flows with both ripe black fruit and herbal snap. Black cherry and plum lead, layered with eucalyptus and mineral grip. On the palate, fine-grained tannins provide structure without weight, while limestone minerality and stone notes create a tautness that feels composed yet fresh. The finish is considerable—a wine built for sipping now or laying down for years.

The Winery — Altos Las Hormigas

Founded by Alberto Antonini and Antonio Morescalchi after their 1995 journey to Mendoza, this Argentinan estate earned its standing as a top-five specialist in Malbec. The 2020 vintage benefited from exceptionally dry conditions and the hottest minimum temperatures in a decade, concentrating the fruit to remarkable purity. Indigenous yeast fermentation at cool temperatures, hand-rotated cap work in concrete, and 18 months in large untoasted foudres prioritise refinement over extraction, allowing the limestone-pebble terroir of Uco Valley's Altamira vineyard to express itself fully.

At Your Table — Food Pairing & Serving

At 1,200 metres elevation, this wine pairs beautifully with grilled lamb, oak-aged beef, and hearty game birds—the mineral spine and juicy mid-palate complement charred and richly braised dishes. Its serious drinking weight makes it ideal for date nights or as a meaningful gift for collectors. The 2020 rewards both immediate pleasure and patient cellaring; consider decanting for 30 minutes to open its layered character. Vegetarian, vegan, and organic-certified options mean this bottle fits thoughtfully at any table. When you explore our broader Malbec range or venture into Argentina's finest expressions, you'll return to this as a benchmark of high-altitude refinement.