Bodega Colome Valles Calchaquies Malbec Altura Maxima 2015 750 ML

Introduction

The 2015 Altura Mxima Malbec is all black olives, decayed violets and malted cereals, a wild and unusual wine with high ripeness but a medium-bodied palate with fine-grained tannins. Producer Information Bodegas Colom is an Argentian winery, located in the Salta region known mainly for its red wines from the Malbec grape, and whites from Sauvignon Blanc from fruit grown at extreme altitude. The operation is located in the Upper Calchaqu Valleys, within the massive Colom estate, which extends to 39,000 hectares (96,000 acres) and includes various subsidiary properties. The winery and original vineyards are located at 2300 meters (7546 feet), with El Arenal Estate at 2700m (8858 ft). Planted in 2007 the Altura Maxima vineyard is, as the name suggests, one of the highest commercial vineyards in the world at 3111m (10,207 feet). La Brava Estate, in the north of the Calchaqu valley, sits “only” at 1750m (5741 feet). El Arenal is planted entirely to Malbec, while Colom and La Brava are planted with Malbec, Torronts and a range of other red varieties including Cabernet Sauvignon, Tannat, Petit Verdot, Syrah and Bonarda. Altura Maxima foregoes the Tannat but also features Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. This altitude maximizes exposure to the sun, and creates a high diurnal temperature variation. These conditions help to achieve uniform ripening of the grapes. The lack of UV protection in the very highest sites produces thicker-skinned grapes. Viticultural practices include use of organic fertilizers and biodynamic preparations. The estate is also the oldest working winery in the country, founded in 1831, probably by the Spanish governor of Salta, Nicols Isasmendi. Certainly in 1854, his daughter Ascensin brought the first pre-phylloxera Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon vines to Colom. The Isasmendi-Dvalos family owned the estate, with one break of 13 years, from 1831 until 2001; it is now part of Hess Family Estates.