Alta Vista
Alta Vista 1998 Alto Malbec (Mendoza)
- $60
In 1997 Jean-Michel Arcaute of Château Clinet in Bordeaux began this Argentinean venture, and this blend of 80% Malbec and 20% Cabernet is supposed to be the best wine from the property. Admittedly, 1998 was a wet year, but this wine has green bean aromas, a clumsy, bulky palate of nondescript red fruit, and wall-to-wall tannins on top of sweet, sugary flavors.
— M.S.
(11/1/2002)
Alta Vista 2000 Cosecha Red (Mendoza)
- Best Buy
- $8
The berry aromas are faint, much weaker than the grassy notes alongside. The flavors are of candied red fruit: think red licorice. The finish is heavy and expansive. While not bad, there is no complexity here.
— M.S.
(11/1/2002)
Alta Vista 2002 Premium Chardonnay (Mendoza)
- $10
The nose is heavy and a bit odd; the mix of pears and white pepper doesn’t really work. In the mouth, potent flavors of butterscotch and Bartlett pear bolster things, but overall it still seems out of whack. —M.S.
— M.S.
(5/1/2003)
Alta Vista 2003 Chardonnay-Torrontes White (Mendoza)
- Best Buy
- $8
This 50/50 blend offers aromas of lime, talcum powder and wet stones. Flavors of apple, melon and citrus are standard and tangy, without too much strength. Lemony acids keep it lively.
— M.S.
(10/1/2004)
Alta Vista 2007 Premium Cabernet Sauvignon (Mendoza)
- Online Exclusive
- $18
Not as clean and fresh on the nose as it could be; instead pickle and barnyard notes enter the picture. It’s better on the palate, which is sweet and sticky as it delivers chunky berry fruit flavors. Sort of cloying on the finish.
— M.S.
(2/1/2010)
Alta Vista 2009 Classic Malbec (Mendoza)
- Online Exclusive
- $12
Salinic upon opening, with thick, candied blackberry aromas along with orange peel. The wine is sincerely syrupy and rich for a value-priced Malbec, but it struggles with balance and comes across heavy, roasted and loaded down with candied berry and milk chocolate flavors.
— M.S.
(12/31/2010)
Alta Vista 2006 Premium Malbec (Mendoza)
- $14
There’s more rhubarb and bramble here than we prefer from a young, everyday Malbec, and thus the bouquet is austere and only skin deep. As might be expected given the aromas, the palate is limited to herbal, lightly pickled red fruit, while the finish is quick and offers some lasting chocolate. Decent wine, but that’s as far as it goes.
— M.S.
(12/31/2008)
Alta Vista 2007 Rosé (Mendoza)
- Online Exclusive
- $11
Rusty in color, with warm strawberry and red pepper aromas. The palate is sort of soft and round, with plump strawberry and raspberry flavors. Holds its pose on the finish before turning more bitter and burnt. Good in its domain, but we recommend waiting for the 2008.
— M.S.
(12/1/2008)
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