In response to the U.S. government’s imposition of tariffs on Canadian goods and products, we will not be selling any of the American wines in our portfolio until further notice.

Altocedro “The Phoenician” Malbec 2023

Producer: Altocedro
Region: Mendoza
Appellation: Uco Valley
Country: Argentina
Classification: GI
Variety: Malbec
Bottle Size: 750 ml
Alcohol: 14.5%
Soil: Alluvial (silt, clay, sand, gravel)
Farming Practices: Sustainably farmed. Pressurized drip irrigation. Hand-harvested.

CELLAR PROFILE


Since 1999, Karim Mussi has been crafting sublime wines in the La Consulta region of the Uco Valley in Argentina. Mussi believes in terroir and seeks to bring out the the distinct nature of the vineyard and it’s original old-vine rootstocks in his finished wines. He has adhered to sustainable farming methods since the winery’s inception, takes a minimalist approach in the cellar and utilizes indigenous yeasts, in 100 year-old concrete vats, during fermentation. Altocedro’s work helped establish the La Consulta region, which was awarded one of the few Argentinean “Geographic Indication” Appellations in 2019. La Consulta vineyards sit as high as 1700m, allowing for plenty of sunlight, limited rainfall (particularly during the growing season) and huge diurnal temperature drops in the evenings to maintain acidity. The wines deliver purity of fruit, varietal character, balancing acidity and, in the case of the reds, silky, but apparent tannic structure. There is a touch of saline minerality on the finish to these that is the hallmark of high-altitude wines.

REGION


With near-desert conditions, extreme elevation and wide diurnal shift, grape vines have proven to thrive in various regions of Argentina. Plantings in the Uco Valley date to the 1920s. This fruit was originally used to add colour and acidity to the wines of warmer areas until winemakers in the 1990s saw larger potential for the region. Today, Uco Valley is producing some of the most influential wines of Argentina. The valley, which runs north to south, is 70 KM long and 40 KM at its widest in the south. It is capped by desert conditions, with cold winds blowing in from Patagonia. At its north end, hills reach 1400 metres+. To the east, the region runs into a series of gorges and dry riverbeds. Vintage Notes: 2022 was a particularly strong vintage, despite a few spring frosts that caused issues during bud break. The yields were 10-20% lower than normal, but the fruit showed great acidity, concentration and ripeness of polyphenols.

VINEYARD


La Consulta is one of the lowest laying and coolest vineyards in the Uco Valley, sitting at 900 masl. Split by the Tunuyan river and sitting in the shadow of the San José volcano, the area benefits from the supply of meltwater coming directly from the peaks of the Andes, as well as from long days full of sunlight. The soil is mainly alluvial, comprised of clay, rocks and sand, ideal for drainage while forcing the vines to dig deep for nutrients thereby creating strong roots and concentrated fruit Vines range in age from 4 to 49 years and have been grown on a trellising system of high vertical shoot positioning and pergola.

WINEMAKING


Hand-harvested grapes from Altocedro’s high elevation, sustainable vineyards. The fruit is gently crushed into concrete vats for fermentation using indigenous yeasts, followed by aging in a combination of concrete vats and French oak.

TASTING NOTES


Lifted notes of red cherry, pomegranate and plum. Despite it’s hefty 14.5% alc., the balancing acidity keeps it from being too weighty or ponderous. There is a core of ripe red fruit, offset by some herbal notes. This is a fruit-forward, quaffable red with with tons of food pairing versatility. Serve at cellar temperature with grilled burgers or spicy sausages.

VARIETIES


Malbec—a thick-skinned, full-bodied grape—has made its home in the foothills of the Andes. Owning more than 75% of the world’s planted Malbec, Argentina is known for having reinvigorated this variety, which has been returned to the list of the top 18 noble grapes.

 

$29.00

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COVID19 Precautions

Buyers+Cellars Tasting Room is dedicated to keeping the Ottawa community safe by abiding by Health Canada recommendations and being as transparent about our procedures, if you have any questions about the following please feel free to contact curtis@buyersandcellars.ca 

  • We are open by appointment only to ensure we can maintain physical distancing
  • Appointments will be staggered, allowing 40 minutes between appointments to ensure sanitization
  • Our brand new kitchen is well ventilated and is cleaned and sanitized before opening, during service and when closing.
  • Our staff is equipped with proper gloves, face masks and sanitizers, and will follow social distancing rules
  • A freshly cleaned bottle of hand sanitizer will be provided for every new appointment
  • We have hand sanitizing stations at the entrance to our premises and at the entrance to our washroom facilities
  • Each group will be assigned to its own washroom 
  • There are touchless soap dispensers in all of our washrooms
  • After each seating, tables and chairs will be disinfected and washrooms will be disinfected and restocked
  • All glasses and bottles are sanitized before use
  • All cutlery is disinfected after being washed in our high temperature dishwasher
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For online orders and the Experiences Boxes

  • The Tasting Room strictly follows the City of Ottawa’s COVID-19 guidelines for restaurants to ensure our establishment is safe for our guests and staff. Below are a few examples of the steps we are taking; 
  • Each wine in your Experience box has been wiped with sanitizer prior to packing and all Experience boxes are put under a powerful UV light for added security
  • Pickups will take place just inside the TTR doors.
  • Deliveries: Our delivery drivers are equipped with gloves, masks and sanitizer to provide safe delivery for each new order. They have also been trained in safe social distancing door delivery protocols.
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