2011 El Esteco ‘Altimus’ Malbec

The 2011 Altimus is mostly Malbec with 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Cabernet Franc that aged separately in French barriques for one year before being blended and aged for an additional six months. There are plenty of roasted, charred aromas like toasted sesame seeds intermixed with ripe black fruit. The medium-bodied palate has abundant, fine-grained tannins, some rustic touches plus good acidity and freshness.
Estate Notes; Altimus is the icon wine of Bodega El Esteco. A winemaker’s blend that changes from year-to-year. Altimus is made from the estate’s best parcels and from the harvest’s best grapes. Harvest is done either very early in the morning or at night when it is cooler and put into small 15 kg cases. A second selection is done in the crushing area and just the free run juice, which has greater concentration, is used for Altimus. Each varietal is vinified separately. After alcoholic fermentation in small stainless steel vats and spontaneous malolactic fermentation, the juice is pumped over to obtain maximum color concentration before being placed in small French barrels to be aged for 18 months. After aging, the final blend is made and bottled unfiltered and un-stabilized to keep the unique character.