Catalpa - Malbec 2022
Price: $27.99
The Atamisque wines have been favorites of mine for years. When I first visited the property over nine years ago the winery was still under construction, but even then I was struck by the incredible quality of the wines being produced form these old vineyards. John Du Monceau was in the process of rejuvenating this old organic farming commune, I recognized even then that this winery was one to watch. Five years later I went back to Mendoza and visited the property again, this time the state of the art gravity flow winery was complete and the wines were some of the best I tasted at any winery in Argentina.
What sets this Malbec apart from the rest is its elegance. It all starts in the vineyard, where organically farmed 70-80 year old vines planted at 4400+ feet in elevation produce small clusters of intensely flavourful fruit. Yields here are very low, but the fruit is excellent, perfect for Atamisque where their emphasis is on top-level wines, not mass production. At the winery the focus on fine wine continues, gravity flow winemaking is the key. The fruit is double sorted at first, only the best bunches are kept for their wines. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks, preserving the freshness of the fruit. The juice is never pumped, the chemical bonds that from teh wines tannin structure are never broken. From sorting table, to fermentation tank, to barrel, to bottle, everything is done by gravity at this four level winery. The result is ultra fine well integrated tannins and delicate acidity.
Pop the cork on this beautiful Malbec and it draws you in with aromas of blackberries, blueberries, and violets, with hints of coffee and minerals. The wine is supple and juicy of the palate with a bevy of black and blue fruits mixing with hints of spice. Medium bodied with incredible balance and a core of ultra fine tannins gives this wine great structure without being too heavy. Its drinking great now, but you could happily age this wine for another 4-5 years or more as well.
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