Why this wine matters
More than a famous label.
The 2022 is sourced mainly from Paraje Altamira with a smaller Gualtallary component, making geology and place central to the wine’s identity.
Altos Las Hormigas · Uco Valley, Mendoza
Malbec Reserve
Malbec · raspberry · cassis · herbs · graphite · chalky tannin
Altos Las Hormigas Reserve is a particularly strong mid-range Malbec because it is built around calcareous Uco Valley soils rather than oak sweetness.
Country
Argentina
Region
Uco Valley, Mendoza
Appellation
Uco Valley
Grapes
Malbec
Style
Red
Realistic spend
£22–£30
Budget band: £20–£35
Best moments
birthdayfathers daybarbecuedinner partygift
A mineral Uco Valley Malbec for birthdays, Father’s Day and beef-led meals.
How it is made
The decisions behind the style.
The wine is 100% Malbec. Around three quarters matures in concrete for 15 months, with the remainder in large untoasted French foudres, followed by bottle ageing.
What does it taste like?
The shape of the wine.
Raspberry, cassis and plum meet thyme, chamomile, wet stone, graphite and menthol. The tannins are chalky and textured rather than plush.
Body4/5
Acidity4/5
Tannin4/5
Sweetness0/5
Oak influence1/5
Freshness4/5
Aroma5/5
Serve it well
Serve around 16–18°C.
If this wine were human…
The earthy thinker
If Malbec Reserve were human, it would be grounded, observant and inclined to prefer substance over polish for its own sake.
substantialsharp-mindedstrong-willedunfussy
Does any of this sound suspiciously familiar?
Grounded, observant and inclined to prefer substance over polish for its own sake. You are capable of appearing very relaxed while maintaining several quite exact standards.
At dinner, you know when the table needs another bottle and when it needs coffee instead. Secretly, you enjoy being underestimated until the second half of the evening.
In short: grounded, observant and inclined to prefer substance over polish for its own sake. malbec energy, translated into a person.
Purely for fun — this is the wine’s fictional personality, not a psychological reading of yours.
What to eat with it
And the cheese?
No dead ends.
Start with this wine and move straight into cheese, or build a whole tasting around it.
Keep exploring
There are 365 more wines where this came from.
Research sources
This profile is researched against producer or similarly authoritative material. Vintage-specific details are kept separate from the permanent wine identity.