Altos las Hormigas Cloud Cabernet Sauvignon 2024

While Altos Las Hormigas is universally acclaimed for redefining Argentine Malbec, their experimental "Cloud" lineup features a fascinating exploration of traditional varieties made in an ancestral, light-extraction style.

Historically crafted as a "Clarete" (a medieval-style light, fluid red), the 2024 Cloud Cabernet Sauvignon marks an important evolution for the label. For this specific vintage, the winemaking team shifted their focus away from Luján de Cuyo, moving the entire project to the cooler, high-altitude sub-regions of the Uco Valley to capture a brighter, more vertical, and mineral-lined expression of the variety.

Wine Description

The Altos Las Hormigas Cloud Cabernet Sauvignon 2024 completely subverts the traditional expectation of heavy, over-extracted, oaky Argentine Cabernet, instead delivering a highly fluid tinto built on texture rather than weight.

• Appearance: A brilliant, translucent light ruby red in the glass.

• Nose: Highly expressive and distinctly savory. It opens with vibrant primary notes of white pepper, green bell pepper, and fresh jalapeño, before giving way to complex layers of wild plums, blackcurrant (cassis), fresh thyme, bay leaf, and a cooling hint of eucalyptus.

• Palate: Remarkably agile, fluid, and packed with drinkability. The entry is lively and fruit-forward, moving into a texturally complex mid-palate defined by crunchy stone fruit and juicy, well-polished tannins. Despite its light-footed mouthfeel, the wine has an assertive physical "grip" on the palate, concluding with a long, fresh, and deeply fruity finish.

• Technical Details: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. The fruit was sourced entirely from 50-year-old, traditional pergola-trained (parral) vines planted in the deep, silty-limestone soils of Casas Viejas (San Carlos, Uco Valley). The grapes were hand-harvested early to preserve natural acidity and fermented cold at 22°C in concrete vats with 30% whole clusters and native yeasts. To emphasize pure fruit identity, it was pressed off early to finish fermentation off the skins, then matured for 6 months entirely in concrete. It sits at 13.5% ABV and is bone-dry (2.5 g/L residual sugar).

Food Pairing

Because the Cloud Cabernet is styled for refreshing fluid agility rather than heavy density, it functions beautifully where heavier red wines fail. It is a spectacular match for stuffed bell peppers, wild boar or game terrines, and flame-grilled lamb chops. Its bright pyrazinic (herbal) and peppery notes also allow it to cut cleanly through roasted rabbit, grilled vegetables, or mild, soft-cured artisanal cheeses.