The 2010 Alta Vista Premium Malbec is a blend of the vineyard in Clos dos Los Siete and Serenade in Alto Agrelo. It is raised 50% in French oak of third and fourth use. It has a simple but fresh nose that veers towards an earthier style, but it bestows great freshness and a sense of personality. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins that do not distract from the crisp blackberry and bilberry fruit. The finish is focused with a tang of sea salt. This is a superb entry-level Malbec. Drink now-2017. Alta Vista was founded by the late great Jean-Michel Arcaute, the man who resurrected Chateau Clinet in Pomerol during the 1980s. Alta Vista, once part of Clos de Los Siete, comprises five different vineyards that together constitute 230 hectares of vines all planted over 1,000 meters above sea level, the exception being the Torrontes from Cafayate that came on-stream in 2001. The winery itself is historical, having been constructed in 1899 and refurbished in 2003. It is worth walking round to see the enormous vats that once held thousands of liters of wine. They are long disused and replaced by small stainless steel vessels that allow technical director Philippe Rolet to execute precision winemaking, and indeed he told me that he is seeking even smaller vats in the future. I found Philippe to be one of the most thoughtful winemakers that I met during my travels in Mendoza: obsessed with terroir and the first to pursue single vineyard bottlings (to the extent that Alta Vista initially patented the expression, since given away to allow its usage.) This was a very strong set of intellectual wines that in some ways are paradigmatic of the direction Argentina is going. Moreover, I consider them to be extremely well-priced vis-a-vis quality. The single vineyard series is vinified in the same way, all raised in new oak for 12 months and bottled on the same day. The only difference is the massal selection and the date of harvest.Importer: Kobrand, New York, NY; www.kobrandwine.com; and Cockburn & Campbell (UK)
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