Colome Malbec

Colome Malbec is a high-altitude Argentine Malbec from Salta's Upper Calchaquí Valley, bottled at 14.5% ABV in a standard 750ml format. Sourced from some of the world's highest vineyards — reaching 3,111 metres above sea level — this wine has earned a 92-point rating from The Tasting Panel and Gold medals at both the Global Masters and the International Wine Challenge.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.5%  |  Origin: Upper Calchaquí Valley, Salta, Argentina  |  15 Months French Oak  |  Producer: Bodega Colomé (est. 1831)

Production & Heritage

Bodega Colomé was established in 1831, making it one of Argentina's oldest continuously operating wineries. Located in the remote Upper Calchaquí Valley of northwestern Argentina's Salta province, the estate draws fruit from vineyards planted at four distinct elevations: La Brava at 1,800m, Colomé Estate at 2,300m, El Arenal at 2,600m, and the remarkable Altura Maxima vineyard at 3,111m — one of the highest commercial vineyards on Earth. The Estate Malbec is predominantly Malbec with small additions of Cabernet Sauvignon and Tannat, aged for 15 months in French oak barrels. The extreme altitude delivers intense UV exposure and dramatic diurnal temperature swings, producing grapes with thick skins, deep color, and pronounced aromatic complexity.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with concentrated cassis and blackberry, layered with violet florals and a distinctive graphite minerality. Clove spice, dark chocolate, and a thread of mint emerge as the wine breathes.

Taste: The entry is rich and full-bodied, with abundant dark fruit flooding the palate immediately. At mid-palate, herbal notes join fruitcake spice, black pepper, and hints of tobacco, all supported by optimal acidity that keeps the wine lifted and structured. Tannins are soft but firm, providing a generous framework without harshness.

Finish: The finish is long and layered, with lingering black-fruit flavors and a return of that graphite minerality. Vanilla and spice from the French oak aging persist alongside fine-grained tannins that slowly fade.

How to Drink Colomé Malbec

This wine shows best with 20–30 minutes of air, whether decanted or simply opened ahead of time, and served at 16–18°C (60–65°F). A generous red wine glass allows the aromatic complexity — particularly the violet and mineral notes — to fully express. While Malbec is not traditionally a cocktail wine, Colomé's bold dark-fruit character works well in a red wine Sangria with blackberries and citrus, a Kalimotxo (equal parts red wine and cola over ice, where the wine's structure holds up), or a New York Sour where it floats beautifully atop a whiskey sour with striking color and fruit depth.

Best For

• Weekend steak dinners where a bold, structured red is essential
• Gifting to someone exploring Argentine wine beyond entry-level Mendoza Malbec
• Building a collection of high-altitude wines from around the world
• Dinner party pours that invite conversation about terroir and extreme viticulture

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Colomé Malbec taste like? Colomé Malbec delivers deep, concentrated dark fruit — blackberry, cassis, and plum — alongside clove spice, black pepper, tobacco, and a distinctive graphite minerality. The palate is rich and full-bodied with firm but approachable tannins and bright acidity that keeps it balanced.

How does Colomé Malbec compare to Amalaya Malbec? Both wines fall under the Grupo Colomé umbrella, but Amalaya sources fruit from lower-altitude vineyards and is positioned as a lighter, more everyday drinking wine. Colomé Estate Malbec draws from significantly higher elevations (up to 3,111m), resulting in greater concentration, deeper color, and more complex aromatics.

Is Colomé Malbec good for sipping on its own? Absolutely — the wine's layered aromatics, balanced acidity, and extended French oak aging make it an engaging stand-alone pour. Decanting for 20–30 minutes allows the full spectrum of fruit, mineral, and spice notes to develop.

Where is Colomé Malbec made? Colomé Malbec is produced at Bodega Colomé in the Upper Calchaquí Valley of Salta, northwestern Argentina. The vineyards sit at altitudes ranging from 1,800 to 3,111 metres in the foothills of the Andes, making them among the highest in the world.

What foods pair well with Colomé Malbec? Grilled ribeye steak is a natural match, as the wine's tannins and acidity cut through the fat. Lamb chops with rosemary echo the wine's herbal undertones. Aged hard cheeses like Manchego complement the black-pepper and spice notes. Dark chocolate desserts mirror the wine's cocoa-like depth. Smoked beef empanadas bridge the wine's fruit intensity with savory, smoky flavors.

What sizes does Colomé Malbec come in? Colomé Malbec is widely available in the standard 750ml bottle format.

Is Colomé Malbec worth the price? Colomé Malbec positions as a mid-premium Argentine Malbec, sitting above everyday supermarket bottles but well below single-vineyard prestige cuvées. For a wine with nearly two centuries of estate history, extreme high-altitude sourcing, 15 months of French oak aging, and consistent 90+ point critical scores, it represents strong value within its tier.

Why Colomé Malbec?

Few wineries anywhere can claim vineyard sources at 3,111 metres above sea level — Bodega Colomé's Altura Maxima site is among the highest commercial vineyards on the planet. That extreme altitude translates directly into the glass: thicker skins produce deeper color, more intense aromatics, and a graphite minerality rarely found in Argentine Malbec from lower-elevation regions. With roots stretching back to 1831, Colomé predates most of Argentina's modern wine industry by over a century. The consistent critical recognition — including Gold medals at the Global Masters and International Wine Challenge, plus 90+ scores from Wine Enthusiast, James Suckling, and Tim Atkin — confirms that this is not simply a novelty of elevation but a genuinely accomplished expression of what Malbec can achieve when pushed to its geographic limits.