Attollo The Black Wine Malbec 2018

Attollo “The Black Wine” Malbec is made from a selection of vineyards across the Margaret River region and utilises only the best individual barrels of the season in creation of the ultimate Malbec, “The Black Wine”.  The vinification utilises both New and Old World influences in creation of a wine with immediate drinkability but ageability for the medium to long-term, depending on your cellaring conditions.

The 2018 growing season was as good as they come, with moderate even ripening and mostly a rainfree warm season.  Fruit was very high quality with beautiful perfume, rich ripe flavours and ripe tannin with a long savoury tail.  Some are saying this is one of the classic vintages in Margaret River- akin to 2001.

The Malbec for this wine was sourced from two vineyards in Margaret River, staying more southern this vintage, stretching from Walcliffe to Karridale.

Bessil Road Walcliffe Subregion Malbec grown using a VSP trellis on grey gravel loams over mottled clay.  The vines were planted in 1996 and this vine age (22 years old in 2018) combined with this inland terroir provides for richly flavoured malbec with an amazing purple colour, powerful aromas of violet and dark fruit, with distinctive hints of savoury herbs, rich long flavour with amazing bright acidity and rustic structural tannins.  This parcel was hand picked on the 4th April 2018 at 13.7 Baume on a biodynamic fruit day.

Glenarty Road Karridale Subregion Malbec grown using a modified lyre arrangement on moderately fertile black loam sands over karri loams.  The vines were planted in 1994 so now have some pedigree also being 24 years old at harvest.  The warm vintage resulted in a wine with intense fruit flavours of Christmas cake and chocolate with violet notes and an immense rich full bodied palate with immense length, fine ripe tannins and a savoury texture.   This parcel was hand picked on the 13th of March 2018 at 14.1 Baume on a biodynamic fruit day. 

The blend was comprised of 0.7t Bessel Road Malbec and 0.7t Glenarty Road Malbec.  All parcels were hand picked and chilled to 5oC before gently destemming to dry iced bins for a 7 day cold soak. The must was then transferred by gravity [bucket] to 225L barrique fermenters (one brand new).  Each individual ferment was plunged by hand gently during ferment lasting for 8 to 12 days and peaking at 25 to 28oC.  Towards the end of fermentation the barrel fermenters were set on racks and left on skins for a period of three to four weeks [extended maceration] to build palate weight and provide a tannic backbone affording longevity to the wine.  The barrels were then gently basket pressed directly back to barrel for malolactic fermentation on lees.  Five individual 225L barriques resulted from this vinification process.  The wines were sulphured at the end of malolactic fermentation and left on lees until for about 12 months with monthly  stirring.  The malbec was then matured on light lees for a total of 15 months, before blending in July of 2018.  The wine was bottled with no fining or filtration in November 2019. 

pH 3.6

Titrateable Acidity [TA] 6.1g/L

Residual Sugar [RS]  0.2g/L

Volatile Acidity [VA] 0.63g/l

Alcohol 14.9%

Cases Bottled 

November 2018

800L

168  6 pack screw cap

Cellaring Best

 Best 2020-28, Maximum 2040

Taste [20/07/2020]

The wine has a typical deep red centre with a pink hue.  The wine is very aromatic with violets in the foreground, with blackberry and chocolate notes in the background, with some bosynberry cherry and savoury leathery undertones.  The 2018 is a very strong vintage with rich fruit and pronounced savoury tannin which will soften over time.   The use of barrel fermentation adds a sweet dimension to the palate and melds the oak so it is barely discernable.  The palate is medium to full weight, with lovely poise and depth, great midpalate richness and a beautiful dry savoury tannic finish.  This wine is very young and will continue to soften and evolve over the next 20 years.