Bodega Colomé Estate Series Salta Malbec 2023
This Malbec is deep, bright red in colour. It has intense aromas of blackberries, red fruits and floral notes and hints of spice from the well-integrated oak. It is fresh and fruity on the palate with ripe black fruits alongside spicy oak and hints of pepper. Crisp acidity supports the bold tannins to give complexity and body.
The climate in the Upper Calchaquí Valley is dry with an average of 120 millimetres of rainfall per year. There is a large difference (20°C) between day and night-time temperatures which aids the retention of natural acidity in the grapes. The fruit comes from vineyards at four different altitudes. La Brava Estate is located on sandy soils and sits at 1,700 metres above sea level, bringing ripeness to the wine. The Colomé Estate features complex soil composed of sand, clay and granite located at 2,300 metres above sea level which brings complexity and weight. The El Arenal Estate on deep sandy soils at 2,600 metres brings elegance, and Altura Máxima, with very stony soil composed of granite, volcanic stone and some calcareous spots at 3,111 metres brings florality and fine grain tannins to the blend. Intense ultraviolet rays result in the grapes developing very thick, dark skins, more colour and good concentration of flavour.
The grapes were picked by hand between March and April. Once at the winery, they were macerated at 8°C for four days and then fermented using indigenous yeasts in stainless steel tanks. Fermentation was kept at 24°C with twice daily, gentle pump overs with an extended maceration period of 30 days. Malolactic conversion occurred in tank. The wine was then aged for 15 months in 225 and 500 litre French oak barrels, 15% of which were new.
| RRP | £23.99 |
| Bottle size | 75cl |
| Vintage | 2023 |
| Alcoholic strength | 14.5% |
| Country | Argentina |
| Region | Salta |
| Subregion | Calchaquí Valley |
| Grapes | Malbec 100% |
| Residual sugar (g/l) | 1.8 |
| Vegetarian | Yes |
| Vegan | Yes |
| Organic | No |
| Biodynamic | No |
| Closure | Diam |
Established in 1831, Bodega Colomé is the oldest working winery in Argentina and home to one of the world's highest commercial vineyards, ‘Altura Máxima’, planted at a staggering 3,111 metres above sea level. The combination of Bodega Colomé’s history, vineyard sites and winemaking talent means they have been consistently classified as a 'First Growth' winery by Tim Atkin MW, in his Annual Argentina Report, since 2020.
Bodega Colomé is based in the northern Argentinian wine region of Upper Calchaquí Valley. The estate is thought to have been founded by the Spanish Governor of Salta, Nicolás Severo de Isasmendi y Echalar, whose daughter brought the first pre-phylloxera Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon vines to Bodega Colomé in 1854. These vineyards are still farmed by the Bodega today, which has since grown to become one of Argentina’s most respected wineries.
Bodega Colomé’s modern reputation began to take shape in 2001 when they were purchased by Swiss entrepreneur Donald Hess (of Hess Collection, Napa Valley fame). Hess not only invested in the vineyards and winery but also into the Colomé village, converting it from a forgotten backwater into a thriving community with multiple schools, a community centre and even an art museum. Many of the now 400-strong villagers are also employed at Bodega Colomé, evidencing the winery's commitment to social sustainability and maintaining the local economy they helped build.
This approach to sustainability also translates to the environment, with Bodega Colomé having 140 hectares of vineyards planted at elevations between 1,700 and 3,111 metres above sea level. These include the three key estate vineyards: ‘La Brava’ (1,750 metres) in Cafayate, ‘Finca Colomé’ (2,300 metres) which surrounds the winery in Molinos and ‘Altura Máxima’ (3,111 metres), in the Payogasta area. Grapes grown at such high elevations, with minimal crop coverage, develop naturally thick skins as protection from the sun’s intense ultraviolet rays. These significant elevations also create a diurnal range of more than 20°C between day and night. This is crucial for achieving quality and balance, with the warmer daylight hours ensuring successful ripening and the dramatically cooler nights preserving acidity and fragrance.
Combining these factors further contributes to lengthening the growing season, resulting in wines with supple, complex tannins, rich colour and a deep, nuanced flavour profile. French winemaker Thibaut Delmotte has been the custodian of Bodega Colomé since 2005, taking the Bodega from being a very good producer to the outstanding Argentinian ‘First Growth’ we know today, through his meticulous, low-intervention philosophy.
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