1998 Alto Malbec

The first vintage of the top of the range ever produced, the 1998 Alto is a blend of 80% Malbec and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon from a difficult "El Niño" year with challenging ripeness. The wine was "only" 13.9% alcohol after fermenting with neutral yeasts in concrete vats, and it then matured in brand new French barriques for 14 months. It was considered a terrible vintage and had lots of rain and challenges, similar to 2016. Today, people are a little more prepared for vintages like that, but at the time, people were surprised and unprepared. Even though the wine matured in new barrels, the oak feels less evident and more integrated in a somewhat classical "Bordeaux" style, with a mixture of cedary, spicy, herbal notes with hints of earth and polished tannins, elegant with power. This is definitely ready now. 2,125 bottles were filled in March 2000, and they are selling some 600 bottles now as a library release.