Altocedro Gran Reserve Malbec

Intro to Altocedro Gran Reserve Malbec –

Altocedro Gran Reserve Malbec is a delicious complex wine with a lingering flavour

Full tasting note and wine making –

Altocedro Gran Reserve Malbec is a wine with rich, complex structure with dynamic smoky oak combining beautifully with very ripe dark berry fruit, fine grained tannins and a serious dry finish.

It is produced by using traditional vineyard techniques and fruit that is picked late when very ripe from the older vineyards. The grapes were carefully selected from ancient vines that are circa one hundred and four years old and then fermented at higher temperatures to produce the traditional rich deep dark dense Argentine style Malbec. It undergoes long maceration and is aged for twenty-four months in new Burgundy oak to obtain an intense concentration of colour, aromas and fruit flavours.

The producer –

‘Everything we do at Altocedro,  Karim Mussi Wines – everything our hands touch – is driven by terroir… We make wine that speaks distinctly of the place it originates, which only makes sense since Altocedro, Karim Mussi Wines are crafted in the finest winegrowing region in Argentina……La Consulta, Uco Valley’ – Karim Mussi

La Consulta, in the Mendoza wine country, is blessed with the extraordinary advantages characteristic of the area, including high altitudes in the Andean foothills, excellent sun exposure with moderate temperatures, and pristine mountain water for irrigation. A long history of winemaking distinguishes La Consulta from the rest of the province, both in terms of the expertise concentrated here and the preponderance of old vines. This prized fruit has long been recognized as the highest quality in the country.

Close, careful interaction with the fruit continues in the Altocedro winery. Winemaker and proprietor Karim Mussi  stays in contact with the wine daily, observing and learning from each lot as it evolves towards its fullest expression of place. It’s an artisan approach steeped in tradition, uncomplicated good sense and respect for the fruit and the land. We listen for – and amplify – the way varietal and clone express themselves on a piece of land, bringing to the fore the rewarding elements of each distinct terroir.”

Karim is a winemaker and entrepreneur by vocation and training. He has presided over Altocedro since 1999 and Alandes since 2012. Besides heading up his wineries, Karim also runs his Salta project, Abras in Cafayate Valley and acts as winemaker consultant, also giving advise to emerging projects in the most promising Argentine wine areas. He is more than happy to discuss world politics, current events, 17th Century British philosophy, seventies rock (The Doors and Led Zeppelin are his favorites) and the genius of Ayn Rand. During harvest, you can find him at El Cielo in La Consulta enjoying their lomito especial and a Stella. As everyone knows, it takes a lot of beer to make a good wine.

Producer website –

http://www.altocedro.com.ar/

Drink with –

Perfect with steak but because of its savoury edge try with rich, earthy mushroom dishes and more powerful cheeses