Bodega Colomé Estate Series Salta Torrontés 2024
Light gold in colour with green tones, this wine has a bright floral nose with citrus aromas of grapefruit and a hint of spice. On the palate, it is fresh and has good mouthfeel with a crisp finish. The wine is elegant and fruity with tropical notes.
The high altitude and diurnal range of the Calchaquí Valley ensures along growing season, as well as helping retain natural acidity in the grapes. The climate is dry with very little rainfall, on average around 120 millimetres per year. Soils are sandy with layers of gravel which helps drainage. The Torrontés vines are grown with the pergola system, between 1,700 and 2,300 metres above sea level.
The grapes went through a double selection process, firstly in the vineyard and then again on the sorting table at the winery. Fermentation was slow, using selected yeasts at low temperatures to retain the varietal fruit character. The wine was aged in stainless steel tanks for two months before bottling.
| RRP | £15.99 |
| Bottle size | 75cl |
| Vintage | 2024 |
| Alcoholic strength | 13.5% |
| Country | Argentina |
| Region | Salta |
| Subregion | Calchaquí Valley |
| Grapes | Torrontes 100% |
| Residual sugar (g/l) | 1.8 |
| Vegetarian | Yes |
| Vegan | Yes |
| Organic | No |
| Biodynamic | No |
| Closure | Screwcap |
| Winemaker | Thibaut Delmotte |
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.
