Altos Las Hormigas Gualtallary Malbec 2018

Alto Las Hormigas leases two vineyards in Gualtallary, both planted on soils rich in calcium carbonate, which undoubtedly contributes to a more solid structure and also offers more austere, less exuberant (and even exhausting) wines than those that come from the sandy soils in that high-altitude area more than 1,300 meters up into the Andean foothills. This one is full of fruity flavors, violet notes, and delicious acidity that projects out across the palate. A wine that’s very much of this place in Gualtallary, which still needs many more studies to determine its true character. For now, and fearing generalization, this one has the personality of the malbecs that begin on Gualtallary’s chalky soils. Score – 96. (Patricio Tapia, guiadescorchados.cl, 2021)