Catena Zapata
Catena Alta Malbec 2022
| Denomination | N/A |
|---|---|
| Size | 0,75 l |
| Alcohol content | 13.5% by volume |
| Area | Mendoza (Argentina) |
| Grape varieties | 100% Malbec |
| Aging | Ageing for 12–18 months in French oak barrels (barriques). |
- Origin: 100% Malbec from Mendoza, from vineyards between 920 and 1,450 metres
- Aromas: notes of blackberry, raspberry, violet, dark chocolate and liquorice
- Palate: dry, enveloping, with lively acidity, minerality and soft tannins
- Vinification: indigenous yeasts, aged for 12-18 months in French oak
- Serving: serve at 16 °C, decant for 1 hour. Awards: Suckling 96, Parker 93, Vinous 95
Description
The Elegance of Mountain Malbec
Catena Zapata's Catena Alta Malbec is an Argentine red wine from Mendoza, a pure expression of the Malbec grape variety. Belonging to the region's protected geographical indication, it boasts a deep aromatic profile dominated by blackberry, raspberry and notes of dark chocolate. On the palate, it is dense and well-structured, supported by velvety tannins and a vibrant freshness. Natural fermentation and time spent in wood define its elegance and excellent ageing potential, paving the way for the story of its fascinating Andean origins.
Historic High-Altitude Parcels
The grapes come from the renowned Mendoza region, carefully selected from historic parcels vinified separately such as Angélica, La Pirámide, Nicasia, Adrianna and Angélica Sur. These prestigious vineyards are located at altitudes between 920 and 1,450 metres, rooted in soils of alluvial origin. The pronounced high-altitude temperature variations favour slow and optimal ripening, which translates directly into the marked minerality and remarkable aromatic complexity found in the glass.
Vinification and Care in the Cellar
Production begins with rigorous hand-harvesting by individual lots, a fundamental step to preserve the identity of each row intact. Fermentation is carried out by indigenous yeasts and is accompanied by prolonged maceration, followed by complete malolactic fermentation in French oak barrels supported by delicate bâtonnage. The process concludes with ageing in French oak barrels for a period of between twelve and eighteen months, essential for giving the wine its characteristic silky texture.
History and curiosities
The Catena Alta Malbec embodies the prestige of a pioneer family of Argentine viticulture, deeply rooted in the Mendoza region since 1902. This fine red wine is born from the brilliant intuition of Nicolás Catena, who chose to cultivate selected clones, known as \"Catena Cuttings\", at altitudes between 920 and 1,450 metres. The grapes come exclusively from historic rows of the family estates, such as Angélica, La Pirámide and Adrianna. This historical dedication is constantly rewarded with the highest international accolades in the wine world.
Awards
-
2022
96/100
James Suckling is an influential American wine critic and journalist who worked at Wine Spectator for 30 years. He left the magazine in 2010 to start his own website and guidebook (JamesSuckling.com). He specialises in Italian and Bordeaux wines.
-
2022
93/100
The prestigious international wine guide from the renowned Robert Parker, the world's most experienced and trusted wine taster.
-
2022
95/100
Vinous is the online guide from Antonio Galloni, one of the world's leading wine connoisseurs.
Tasting notes
Perfume
Color
Taste
Serve at:
16 - 18 °C
Longevity:
10 - 15 years
Decanting time:
1 hour
Nicolás Catena would never use the word about himself - a less boastful spirit, it’s hard to imagine - but he has been the quiet revolutionary in the Catena family history book. He has charted the family’s path to the new frontier of winemaking, drawing on lessons learned from the land and in the classroom, then applying his education to dare to challenge the conventional wisdom.
Taking the reigns of the family vineyards and wineries in the mid 1960s, he concentrated on expanding distribution throughout Argentina during years of turmoil in the 1970s. But in the early 1980s, Nicolás left Argentina to become a visiting professor of economics at the University of California, on the world-renowned campus at Berkeley. The political and economic situation in Argentina was difficult, with a military government that had just declared war on the United Kingdom and inflation rates of more than 1000 per cent per year.
Nicolás set out to develop his own selection of Argentine Malbec clones planting 145 clones in the La Pirámide vineyard. Of these, he selected the best five and began to plant them in different terroirs and altitudes.
Read more
| Name | Catena Zapata Catena Alta Malbec 2022 |
|---|---|
| Type | Red still |
| Denomination | N/A |
| Vintage | 2022 |
| Size | 0,75 l |
| Alcohol content | 13.5% by volume |
| Grape varieties | 100% Malbec |
| Country | Argentina |
| Region | Mendoza |
| Vendor | Catena Zapata |
| Story | History and curiosities The Catena Alta Malbec embodies the prestige of a pioneer family of Argentine viticulture, deeply rooted in the Mendoza region since 1902. This fine red wine is born from the brilliant intuition of Nicolás Catena, who chose to cultivate selected clones, known as \"Catena Cuttings\", at altitudes between 920 and 1,450 metres. The grapes come exclusively from historic rows of the family estates, such as Angélica, La Pirámide and Adrianna. This historical dedication is constantly rewarded with the highest international accolades in the wine world. |
| Origin | Angélica Vineyard, Maipú, Luján de Cuyo (Mendoza, Argentina) |
| Soil composition | Alluvial origin |
| Fermentation | 28–30 days |
| Production technique | Manual harvesting by batch and separate vinification by parcel; fermentation with indigenous yeasts and extended maceration in French oak barrels; malolactic fermentation in barrel with bâtonnage; ageing for 12–18 months in French oak barriques. |
| Wine making | Manual harvesting by individual lot and separate vinification by parcel; fermentation with indigenous yeasts and prolonged maceration (approx. 28–30 days) in French oak barrels, with alcoholic and malolactic fermentation taking place in the barrel and gentle bâtonnage; ageing for 12–18 months in French oak. |
| Aging | Ageing for 12–18 months in French oak barrels (barriques). |
| Total acidity | 6.0 gr/L |
| PH | 3.61 |
| Allergens | Contains sulphites |