Adelante Malbec 2015

Adelante 2013 Malbec, La Consulta, Valle de Uco, Mendoza | 14.5% | 100% Malbec | One can generally assume mountain fruit tends to low yields which equal concentration but this wine is also from 68 year old vine planted ungrafted far from the threat of phylloxera so these are all the richer still from yields of only 2.5 tons per acre –extremely low by any standard.

Uco Valley is a sun soaked part of high Mendoza at 3,000 feet elevation and here in one of the coolest sub-regions of La Consulta the grapes are provided everything they need to thrive: ample sunlight, pure moisture from melting mountain runoff, and minimal stress.

Despite these natural gifts the 2013 vintage received hail in parts of their vineyard during fruit set which did not impact the health of the remaining fruit fortunately but it did reduce the overall yield by 20% -meaning even more fragrant blackberry and thick skin blueberry notes so revealing of good Malbec –especially when balanced by the spice from evolution in oak casks and the mineral structure from being grown at higher, cooler elevations. An absolute treat and a true value.
Wine review by Nicholas Livingston, January 26, 2016 (Fruit)

Food Pairings

Fajitas, chili, spicy foods. Indian or Mexican. Beef, lamb or pork most anyway but especially on the grill. Burgers and sausages.