2013 - Adrianna Vineyard Mundus Bacillus Terrae Malbec, Catena Zapata, Uco Valley

A bigger, more powerful expression than the 2011, with tension running through the centre of the wine and a sense of effortless balance. A classic vintage, with no extremes during the growing season in terms of hail or frost. Clear spice, freshly cut herbs, white pepper, black cherry fruits that are fleshy but well defined. The structure is relaxed, effortless, but with a sense of energy.

(these vines on shallow limestone soil are protected from the worst of the afternoon sun; there's huge organic material in the soil by Argentine standards, notes Alejandro Vigil): Bright saturated ruby to the rim. Crushed blackberry and smoky, saline soil tones on the nose. Utterly imploded on the palate, with penetrating acidity and saline minerality contributing to the wine's great inner-mouth tension. Powerfully structured, juicy, tannic wine with a long life ahead of it. In a more Nebbiolo style, notes Vigil, who fermented the wine in old barrels and aged it in 2,000-liter barrels, none new. With a pH of 3.4, this wine should age at a snail's pace and may ultimately be the best of these 2013s. According to Vigil this 1994 planting was the first in Gualtallary.