Malbec “Terroir” Luján de Cuyo 2019 – Altos Las Hormigas

The grapes to produce the Malbec “Terroir” Luján de Cuyo Altos Las Hormigas were harvested by hand and carefully sorted. The grapes were then released by gravity into small concrete tanks where fermentation took place using native yeasts, at controlled temperatures of 24-28°C for 12 days. The wine spent 18 months in the concrete tanks, and a further six months ageing in bottle.  Grapes for this wine come from a certified organic vineyard in the traditional winemaking region of Luján de Cuyo in Mendoza. The vines are planted at high density meaning the roots have to develop deep into the soil to find nutrients. Limestone soils give elegance to the wine, and the grapes are all handpicked. The Altos Las Hormigas Estate born when the two friends and business partners Alberto Antonini and Antonio Morescalchi were impressed by Mendoza’s vineyards on their first visit in 1995 where they purchased 206 hectares (530 acres) in the rural township of Lujan de Cuyo. Alberto and Antonio work very closely with Pedro Parra (widely regarded as the South American expert on soil and vineyard mapping) in order to identify the best locations to grow their grapes. Their never-ending experimentation and desire to produce the best wines that Argentina can offer, has made Altos Las Hormigas a Malbec specialist, with a reputation as one of the country’s top producers of this variety.