The sleek and elegant 2019 Adrianna Vineyard Mundus Bacillus Terrae is now certified organic (since 2018) and comes from vines planted in 1992 at 1,390 meters above sea level in Gualtallary on alluvial limestone soils. Seventy-five percent of the volume fermented in concrete vats with 50% full clusters, and the remaining 25% fermented in oak foudres. But instead of fermenting the grapes, they only fermented the juice (like it's usually done for white wines), to give the wine more elegance and lightness. I was listening to a record from a new band, Generation Radio, with musicians from Journey and Chicago, and the music had a similar profile to the wine: sleek, elegant, polished, nicely crafted, clean and harmonious, easy to listen to (and drink) with a soft side to it. The wine has ripeness (14% alcohol) but also the high acidity from the high-altitude vineyards that makes it very lively, beautifully textured, balanced and elegant. Beautiful. 5,400 bottles were filled in November 2020.

The 2019 Malbec Adrianna Vineyard Mundus Bacillus Terrae from Gualtallary, Uco Valley comes from Parcel 3 of the Adrianna Vineyard, which is planted at a height of 4,560 feet in alluvial soils rich in calcium deposits. Aged for 18 months in new and used French barrels, it is a rich purple in hue. A complex, fragrant, aromatic profile of fresh blueberry and blackberry along with hints of plum, country herbs, black tea, lavender and a whiff of violets over a well-integrated bed of oak. In the mouth, it’s sheer elegance. The chalky tannins combine with the juicy freshness in such a way that the delicately balanced palate remains compact without drying out. The finish is a repeat of the nose.

Silky tannins, plush fruit, spicy aromas. Lots of body and weight here, yet there is elegance thanks to integrated acidity. Dense fruit without much complexity yet. (RH)

Harvested up to three weeks early. 100% Malbec from a 1.4-ha plot . Purple-blue in colour. A touch volatile in aromas with hints of boot polish and balsamic vinegar. These notes give way to dark plums and cherries in time. Sweet and polished fruit dominates the palate, with pastille-like blackcurrant and blackberry at the core. Structurally impressive with fresh acidity and polished sweetness, the nature of the fruit at the moment tempers my score. (TP)