ACHAVAL FERRER
MENDOZA, ARGENTINA 2021
WHY BUY:
Why do we love Achaval Ferrer? How much time do you have? This stellar quartet of bottles from their famed plot in Mendoza (including a 98-pointer from Altamira and two 96-pointers) is built upon an incredible and unbeatable foundation: from old, high-altitude vines sourced from a carefully-tended, single-vineyard, low-yield plot. The result: Old World elegance and structure meets New World concentration and power. And (and it cannot be emphasized enough): not just some of the best Malbecs around, but some of the best wines for the price you’re going to find anywhere.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING:
James Suckling reviewed all four wines, and came away enthralled. He lavished 98 points on the Finca Altamira 2021, and his tasting notes are brimming with an almost bubbly enthusiasm: "ripe but fresh and complex, with plenty of layers... Fresh yet hedonistic with fine veins of tannins. Plush and extremely long.” In his assessment of the 96-point Finca Mirador 2021, he praised its "tons of black fruit,” its "very silky tannins,” and its "lingering finish that goes on and on." He likewise awarded 96 points to the Finca Nazarenas 2021, calling it a “profound," “lush, “voluptuous” wine with "plenty of silky tannins that dissolve seamlessly. Very long." The Finca Bella Vista 2021 earned plaudits for its similarly velvety profile: "opulent... complex… [e]xtremely long and hedonistic."
THE STORY:
Achaval Ferrer began in 1998 as a collaboration between four friends: two Argentines (Santiago Achaval and Manuel Ferrer, whose names eventually came to grace the label) and consultant winemaker Roberto Cipresso. All shared an audacious ambition: to make world-class wine in Argentina. The original plan was to plant new vineyards, but then they happened to come upon Altamira, an old vineyard planted in 1950, and, well —out went the first draft of a plan. Rather than starting from scratch, they focused on finding ancient, talented vineyards and nursing them to full health, then using them to make single-vineyard wines that are built upon both quality and site specificity. It was a strategy that put Argentine wine on the map in ways few had imagined possible. In 2011, the founders sold to Tenuto del Mundo (part of the SPI group), but the handover was meticulous. Since 2013, winemaker Gustavo Rearte (who trained with Delegats in New Zealand and LVMH in California) has been at the helm, taking care not to tinker with what already has worked brilliantly. Or as he likes to put it: "I'm lucky to receive a Ferrari and I'm not going to put Renault accessories on it," he says.
OUR TASTING NOTES:
These Finca bottlings ride a tightrope between Old World structure and New World exuberance, with both somehow winning.
* The Altamira delivers dark berries, floral aromatics, gorgeous mineral notes, and a subtle cocoa-y richness, all wrapped in refined tannins that coat without weighing you down
* With the Mirador, we were struck by a remarkable sense of equilibrium; its concentrated core of dark fruit never descends into heaviness or density, thanks to a bright and sneaky note of acidity that keeps everything lifted
* Sourced from vines planted in 1923, the Nazarenes offers profound depth: dark berries, spice, cocoa, dried fruit, all unfolding with stately slowness to reveal seamless integration and extraordinary persistence
* The Bella Vista, with many vines over a century old, brings sumptuous richness while maintaining the vibrancy that keeps you yearning for another sip, another pour
THE SPECS:
All four of the Finca wines come from old, ungrafted, high-altitude vines in low-yielding, single-vineyard plots. The winemaking is intentionally hands-off to preserve site specificity and terroir expression. And they take their barreling seriously here: aging in new French oak might not be novel, but aging wines in 160-liter "cigar" barrels is. The latter method allows for greater wine-wood contact in less time.
FUN FACT:
Finca Bella Vista, located in the foothills of the Andes near the Mendoza and Tunuyán rivers, offers "Teanners" to visitors to the winery: afternoon tea from 5pm until sunset, followed by wine tastings as the light fades behind the mountains.
WHAT TO PAIR THEM WITH:
These commanding reds demand food of equal heft and depth. Think: a perfectly grilled tomahawk; a pan-seared duck breast with huckleberry sauce; a rich red-wine-and-mushroom risotto.
OUR GUARANTEE:
As always, we only buy and source directly from the estate to ensure pristine provenance. At $130 per for wines of this caliber and pedigree, these for sure won't last long — so secure yours today!
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Spring 2026. All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. The price reflected on your order form is subject to change after the order is placed in the event of a change in tariffs or taxes that are imposed by the U.S. government, or in the case of currency fluctuations of 10% or greater. Offer only valid in CA, CO, FL, MA, NJ & NV. This offer will expire on Monday, November 3rd, 2025.