I remember tasting Chateau Lafite for the first time. It was back in 2002 and the bottle of 1996 had recently been given to my father as a thank you present. It had just been awarded 100 points by Robert Parker, so we approached it with all due reverence, bringing out the best glasses and double-decanting it two hours beforehand. I had my notebook open, ready to write down my best Diploma student tasting-notes, and poked my nose into the glass in preparation for the transcendent moment. My pen remained poised above the page. I poked my nose in deeper, tilting my head at various angles to give better access to the aroma molecules, but the anticipated choir of angels didn’t burst into song, or, if they did, it was sotto voce. In that moment, I realised that perfection, in vinous form, at least, wasn’t a synonym for hedonism. Great young wines didn’t surrender their gifts immediately, they were introverted, restrained, beautifully-balanced, elegant and disappointing. Twenty years later, I tried the Chateau Lafite 1996 again for only the second time and the angels were in fine voice, with a much, much wider range of octaves than before. I filled the page of my notebook with superlatives.

I would put this outstanding Argentine Malbec at a very similar stage of life to that young Chateau Lafite, with everything in perfect balance, not a hair out of place, just waiting for its best friend, time, to bring the best out of it. 13.5% alc. Drink 2027-2050.

Press reviews:

Vinous: "The 2021 Malbec Adrianna Vineyard 'Fortuna Terrae' is sourced from a small plot situated in Gualtallary, featuring a soil profile with a depth of one metre. It underwent a meticulous 16-month aging process in foudres and concrete vats and exhibits a dark purple hue. The nose presents enticing lavender, minty, mountain herbs, orange peel and curry aromas layered over a foundation of dried flowers. The palate offers a compelling combination of dryness and juiciness. The rich and taut mouthfeel imparts a vibrant energy that flows into a compact yet delicately lingering finish. A unique and flavourful Malbec, it marries a primary style with a terroir-driven conceptual approach. Drink now-2040." 97 points

Descorchados:"Fresh years like 2021 tend to accentuate the fresh and fruity character of the Fortuna Malbec. This vintage offers a lovely layer of tart red fruits, but it also has the floral notes and, indeed, the herbal touches that are characteristic of Gualtallary. The palate is tense and full of tannins that give the textural sensation of chalk as well as energetic and vibrant acidity in a wine that seems to actually crunch in the mouth. This Fortuna Terrae comes from five hectares planted in the Adrianna Vineyard around the mid-1990s in Gualtallary, in the north of the Uco Valley. It's a deep, sandy loam soil that has a layer of calcium carbonate toward the bottom, where the roots reach and deliver that classic chalky texture to the wine." 98 points

JancisRobinson.com: “For several years now winemaker Alejandro Vigil has been focused on treating his top Malbecs with a delicate hand in the cellar, and that allows nuances of fruit layers to come through in the wine. Blackberries and Victoria plum meddle with exotic spices, clove and a touch of cigar. There’s a fine spine of tannins and tension with firm acidity that gives a powerful finish. This cool vintage will age nicely. (AB). Drink now-2040.” 17.5+ points

The Wine Advocate (previous vintage, as the 2021 hasn’t been reviewed yet): “The 2020 Adrianna Vineyard Fortuna Terrae shows exceptionally well. It's still young and juicy with some baby fat that should get rendered with some more time in bottle. It's a little lighter, and the tannins gave it grip and a chalky limestone sensation. But the wine is very expressive, with purity, clean and precise and not showing any signs of coming from a warmer year like 2020. It finishes with the telltale violets from the great Malbec grape coated by chalky minerality. This plot behaves well in warmer years like this one.” 98 points