Altos Las Hormigas, Jardin de Hormigas Meteora Malbec Paraje Altamira 2021

95 points Vinous
"The 2021 Malbec Jardin de Hormigas Meteora originates from Paraje Altamira and was aged for 12 months in concrete vessels. Purple in hue. The subtle, nuanced nose features violet, sage and fennel notes alongside plum and blackberry. It has a dry, lean, chalky texture with an athletic, focused profile in which the energy and mouthfeel enhance the light-footed character. The 2021 is a modern, beautifully sculpted red."

Jancis Robinson
"Full bottle 1,316 g. Red wax seal. The first releases from Altos Las Hormigas’s certified-organic Jardín de Hormigas vineyard in Paraje Altamira, Uco Valley, are made by young winemaker Federico Gambetta. The vineyard, at an elevation of 1,200 m, is separated into 22 individual plots across 23 different soil types, each less than 1.5 ha on average in size. The Meteora Malbec 2021 is sourced from four different plots, vinified with indigenous yeasts in concrete tanks with 15% whole cluster then aged in concrete for 12 months. The temperature was kept at 25 °C throughout the entire process. TA 5.17 g/l, pH 3.63.
Dark purplish crimson. Dark-red and black-fruited and both lightly floral and stony in aroma – so much pure fruit and very expressive yet not overly sweet-smelling. The stony quality enhanced by the concrete tanks, I think. Incredibly fine tannins, not silky but like many layers of tissue paper. Extreme elegance and fruit purity, with the freshness of the vineyard site. Elegant, not at all showy, but with great persistence and a deliciously dry finish. Beautiful wine with tannic finesse. Worth every penny/cent. GV even though it is not inexpensive. A wine that would please those who seek fruit and those who prefer elegance – a fine balancing act. 17.5/20 points. (JH)"