Altamana - Grande Reserve Malbec, 2018
Patrick d’Aulan and Didier Debono are the personalities behind Altamana. Together, the two Frenchmen have a longstanding track record stretching from Bordeaux to the New World.
In 2012, d’Aulan and Debono established Altamana in the Maule Valley. The duo did extensive research on malbec in Chile and discovered that the best ones come from the centenary malbec vines planted in the Maule area. Altamana’s mission is to resuscitate those ancient vineyards. Looking at this wine, it seems d’Aulan and Debono are on the right path!
Deep ruby on the glass, with a tinge of violet. On the nose, it has a medium+ intensity of flavours. Ripe black fruit aromas (blackberry, black plums) intersperse with warm sensations, penetrating and sharp. Prunes, macerated fruit, liquorice, Turkish coffee, black olives and a suggestion of meaty juices.
On the palate, the wine is medium to full in body. Dense black fruit attack. Savoury notes show up in the mid-palate – smoked wood, thyme, coffee and dried herbal notes. Good balance between stalkiness, toast and fruity components. This malbec is definitively more savoury than most of its South American counterparts. Good acidity and a high level of tannins, pleasantly bitter. Decent finish with an interesting herbal edge (thyme and pine needle nuances).