For the 2021 Rutini Single Vineyard Altamira Malbec, the professional-review picture is quite strong, although published reviews are more limited than for the Gualtallary bottling.
Professional scores I found
| Critic / Guide |
Score |
Comment |
| Descorchados 2024 |
95/100 |
Highlighted as one of the best wines of its terroir |
| Robert Parker / Wine Advocate |
92/100 |
Listed in Wines of Argentina's compiled Uco Valley scores |
| World's Best Sommeliers' Selection 2025 |
Selected |
Praised for fresh, intense black fruit, sweet spice and refined structure |
| Wine Enthusiast |
— |
I could verify 93 points for the 2019 vintage, but not a published 2021 review |
Rutini itself reports the 95-point Descorchados 2024 score for the 2021 Altamira. The Wines of Argentina score compilation lists the 2021 at RP 92.
What the 2021 is like
This is a more mineral, fresh and structured style of Mendoza Malbec, rather than a plush, heavily fruit-driven one. The 2021 is from Altamira in the Uco Valley at roughly 1,235 m elevation, and is 100% Malbec. It receives about 12 months in French oak, contributing cocoa/toasty notes without overwhelming the fruit.
Expected profile:
- Aromatics: violet, lavender, anise, blackberry/dark berries, cacao
- Palate: firm but polished tannins, dark fruit, spice
- Structure: notably fresh acidity with a mineral/graphite character
- Finish: long, fresh and savory
- Overall: elegant, serious and terroir-driven rather than jammy
The 2019 vintage received 93 points from Wine Enthusiast, which described it as energetic, with cranberry/cherry fruit, graphite, succulent fruit and excellent acidity—useful confirmation of the style of the Altamira bottling.
My take
95 Descorchados + 92 RP is a very respectable professional consensus. I'd put this in the 93–95-point quality range, with the principal attraction being precision, freshness, mineral character and tannin, rather than sheer power.
If you're considering buying/drinking it, 2021 is a particularly appealing vintage for someone who likes sophisticated, cooler-feeling Uco Malbec. I'd expect it to drink well now with decanting, but it has enough structure to develop further.
The "Malbec Single Vineyard Altamira, Dominio Rutini, Uco Valley, AR, 2021" is an elegant, complex, and high-quality Malbec from Argentina's Uco Valley. Produced by Bodega Rutini Wines under its premium Dominio line, this wine highlights the unique characteristics of the Altamira region. Expect a well-balanced wine with firm tannins, juicy berry notes, and aromatic complexity, including notes of mountain herbs, pepper, and grilled grapefruit
