"The 2011 Malbec Appellation Vista Flores is produced from 100% Malbec from Vista Flores in the Uco Valley, in a new zone closer to the mountains, which is fresher. There is a huge change in this vintage. I don't feel the oak at all; the wine is aromatic, expressive and mineral. The palate is really fresh, and juicy with a silky texture and very lively flavors of violets and ripe blue fruit, with some tannins to be polished. Drink 2015-2020.

Altos las Hormigas, created back in 1995, is a prominent name among the wines of Mendoza and involves various famous names, like the Italian winemaker Alberto Antonini (ex-Antinori) or Chilean soil-guru Pedro Parra. Since 2011, and especially 2012, there has been a big change in direction and the wines show much more freshness, and less influence from oak, in search of being transparent to the different terroirs. They now focus on calcareous soils aiming for alcohol levels below 14.5% and aging the wines in untoasted oak foudres.