2013 Colome Malbec Altura Maxima

Bodega Colomé in the Calcahaquí Valley is 7,500 feet above sea level, making it one of the highest wineries in the world. It was founded in 1831 by the Spanish Governor of the region. His daughter and her husband brought French pre-phylloxera vines to the estate in 1854, and wine has been made there ever since. The estate remained in the founding family until 2001, when it was purchased by Donald Hess of the international Hess Family Wine Estates. Remarkably, the estate’s main vineyards are at altitudes of 1.5 to nearly 2 miles above sea level, resulting in tremendous sun exposure but also wide swings in day to night temperatures. With about 65,000 acres of vineyards, Colomé produces enough wine to export to 40 countries. The estate makes several labels, but its flagship wines are its various Malbecs. Starting with the 2012 vintage Colomé started a new luxury cuvee, Altura Maxima, a Malbec made from grapes grown at 10,207 feet.

Argentina is the fifth largest producer of wine in the world, producing somewhat more in an average year that Australia. That fact is surprising, given that Argentina winemaking was largely unknown outside of Argentina and its neighboring nations until the 1990s, when long-time producers and innovative newcomers started making higher quality wines with an eye to exporting. With its extremely high vineyards – usually between 2,300 and 4,600 feet above sea level – Argentina’s grapes are richly flavored due to widely fluctuating day and night temperatures, and virtually free of disease. Malbec is the most widely grown grape, followed by Bonarda. Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo, Sangiovese and Merlot are just a few of the other red wine grapes grown. Torrontés is the most distinctive white grape, though Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc are some of the other commonly grown white grapes. Many wine writers say that Argentina is South America’s leader in high quality wines, and prestigious wine producers from Europe and the U.S. have flocked to Argentina to open wineries or to partner with other vignerons. Among the big international names involved in winemaking in Argentina are the Rothschilds of Lafite, Moet et Chandon, Pierre Lurton of Cheval Blanc, Paul Hobbs and Michel Rolland.

This grape produces a dark red wine with plenty of tannins. It is one of the six grapes allowed for blending red Bordeaux wines. Malbec is also the flagship variety of Argentina. The grape needs a lot of sun and heat to mature. It adds complexity and intensity to blends.