Paraje Altamira Principio Malbec Single Vineyard Valle de Uco 2024 750ml

La Igriega Paraje Altamira Principio Malbec Single Vineyard Valle de Uco 2024

La Igriega — Spanish for the letter "Y," meaning "and" in English — takes its name from the genetic structure at the heart of this project: the union of place, variety, and vision. This is a single-vineyard Malbec from Paraje Altamira, one of the most coveted and celebrated sub-appellations within the Valle de Uco in Mendoza. Situated at high altitude on ancient alluvial soils with a high proportion of limestone and clay, Paraje Altamira produces Malbecs of extraordinary precision, verticality, and aromatic complexity — wines that stand apart from the richer, more opulent styles found elsewhere in Argentina.

The 2024 vintage showcases everything that makes this terroir exceptional. Cool blue fruit, stemmy herbs, and fine-grained tannins give the wine a more vertical, structured character than most of the appellation — elegant rather than plush, with a freshness and mineral tension that speaks directly of the high-altitude vineyard site.

Deep ruby in the glass, the wine opens with ripe aromas of cool blue fruit, fresh mulberries, dark cherries, lavender, and stemmy herbs. The palate delivers intense red fruit — sour cherry, fresh plum, a hint of herbs — with smooth, slightly plush texture, soft chalk, and a juicy, clean finish. Al dente dark fruit and fine-grained tannins carry through to a long, focused close. A single-vineyard Malbec of real character and exceptional value.

James Suckling — 93 pts

“Ripe aromas of cool blue fruit, stemmy herbs, fresh mulberries, lavender and dark cherries. Medium-bodied with al dente dark fruit and fine-grained tannins. A bit more vertical than most of the appellation’s wines, with good length and tannins.” (Vintage 2024). 

Vinous — 92 pts

“Delivers intense red fruit, with sour cherry, fresh plum and a hint of herbs. Smooth and slightly plush, with soft chalk and a juicy, clean finish.” (Vintage 2024). 

Varietal: Malbec
Appellation: Paraje Altamira, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina
Vintage: 2024
Format: 750ml
Scores: 93 pts James Suckling | 92 pts Vinous