2015 Tikal Malbec Amorio

2015 Tikal Malbec Amorio

2015 Tikal Malbec Amorio The 2015 Amorío is now pure Malbec from two vineyards in Altamira. It fermented with native yeasts in concrete vessels and rolling barrels and matured in 225-liter barriques for 12 months followed by a further 14 months in 3,500-liter oak vats. From this vintage on, it will have the Paraje Altamira appellation. It is quite fresh from the vintage, with low alcohol and an austere palate. It surprised me with its serious personality and the verticality on the palate. 24,000 bottles were filled in August 2017.

Tikal

Tikal is owned by Ernesto Catena and is named after his son. Ernesto spent his childhood in the vineyards of Mendoza among wine-growers and local pundits. Since then, he has experienced a kaleidoscope of cultures, living in New York, Buenos Aires, Berkeley, Cambridge (MA), Milan and London. But his heart remains in his homeland of Argentina (where he now lives), with its natural beauty of mountains, streams and vineyards, its wines, and its people who hold a special passion for living.

There are few wine brands that reflect the sensibilities of their owner more than Tikal. A skilled horseman, fashion designer, software developer, and book editor, Ernesto pursues all that gives pleasure in life. This hedonism (in the best sense of the word) shows through in the wines. It is a style meant to provide enormous pleasure rather than provoke contemplation; an expression of emotion rather than intellect. He has named his wines with passion in mind: Patriota (Patriot), Corazon (Heart), Amorio (Love Affair), Jubilo (Rejoice).

Luis Reginato is the winemaker at Tikal as of the 2002 vintage. Luis is young, but is already a highly trained and respected vineyard consultant and winemaker with long experience at his family’s winery in Mendoza. Truly an up and coming talent, Luis and his wines are already garnering high praise from U.S. wine critics. Definitely a winemaker to watch.