Why it matters
The producer
Bodegas Alta Vista's vineyard holdings include 7 hectares of old Malbec in La Compuertas, 90 hectares in Agrelo, and 250 hectares planted in Vista Flores at the foot of the Andes. Didier Debono is the winemaker. The range moves between a Mendoza red and a Salta white, with Alta Vista Atemporal as the blended red and Estate Premium Torrontés as the white made from Torrontés. All grapes are handpicked.
Patrick d'Aulan's family had owned a Champagne house for approximately 150 years before establishing Alta Vista in Argentina. The move brought French winemaking heritage into an Argentine producer working across Mendoza and Salta wine regions. The bottles separate a Mendoza red blend from a Salta Torrontés white. Champagne ownership gave way to Argentine grapes, vineyard areas and regional names.
Place and vineyards
Where the wines begin
At Alta Vista, the red comes from Mendoza's Uco Valley and the white comes from Salta. The place names separate a red blend from a white made from Torrontés, so geography enters the range through colour and grape composition.
In the cellar
Vineyards and cellar
All grapes are handpicked. Atemporal is aged for 12 months in French oak barrels. Estate Premium Torrontés is made without malolactic fermentation to preserve freshness and aromatic qualities.
Wines to know
The range in view
Alta Vista's range is split between a blended red and a Torrontés white. Atemporal combines Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Estate Premium Torrontés is 100% Torrontés.
Atemporal opens with violet, pepper, cinnamon and licorice, a nose tied to its blend. Estate Premium Torrontés is pale yellow, clean and bright. Its nose brings lemon peel, tangerine, lychee, jasmine and acacia, combining tropical, floral and citrus aromas. Crisp acidity carries citrus and honey to a saline finish.