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WINES OF ARGENTINA
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Catena Classic
Catena Classic wines are a special assemblage of the Catena Zapata family High Mountain Estate Vineyards
made by Laura Catena and Alejandro Vigil. Although most Catena wines are consumed shortly after release,
they age beautifully for ten to twenty years. Through decades of study and exploration within Mendoza’s
high-altitude mountain
terroirs
, the Catena family has identified special locations for its estate vineyards.
From of these historic vineyards emerge wines of unique character that have natural balance, concentration,
and distinct varietal identity.
Catena Chardonnay
Catena Chardonnay is sourced from three of the family´s vineyards in Luján de Cuyo and Tupungato.
In the Agrelo District of Luján de Cuyo, the La Pirámide Vineyard grapes lend the wine ripe citrus and
stone fruit aromas and flavors. Fruit from the Domingo Vineyard in the Villa Bastías district of Tupungato
emphasizes those stone fruit flavors and gives the wine its rich texture and mouthfeel. The high-altitude
Adrianna Vineyard in the Gualtallary district of Tupungato produces grapes with lively floral notes, a
pronounced minerality, and a crisp, cool-climate acidity. From the marriage of these historic parcels
emerges a wine of a unique character that has natural balance, concentration, and a distinct varietal
identity. This wine is whole-cluster pressed and fermented in third use barrels and stainless steel. The juice
then undergoes partial malolactic fermentation and is aged for ten months in French oak before bottling.
The wine is aged in the bottle for twelve months before it is released.
2014:
92 WA |
2013:
90 WA |
2012:
91 WA |
2011:
90 WA, 90 V |
2010:
90 WA |
2009:
90 WA |
2008:
91
WA
Catena Malbec
The Catena Malbec is sourced and blended from the family´s high-altitude vineyards in Maipú, Luján
de Cuyo, Tupungato, and San Carlos. Each vineyard is divided into lots that are harvested at different
times and specifically farmed in preparation for their role in the final blend. The old vines in the Angélica
Vineyard in the Lunlunta district in Maipú produce grapes that lend a soft, sweet texture. The lauded
Catena cuttings in the La Pirámide Vineyard in the Agrelo district of Luján de Cuyo add spicy notes
to the wine. The cold nights in the Altamira district of San Carlos, where Catena’s Nicasia Vineyard is
located, help to grow grapes with bright, crisp acidity. And the intense sunshine in the Adrianna Vineyard
in the Gualtallary district of Tupungato helps give the grapes explosive floral aromatics and firm, but
silky soft tannins. This combination of different vineyard components results in a wine with heightened
complexities and unique character that is full-bodied yet balanced, concentrated, and complex, while
retaining true varietal character. This wine goes through an extensive cold maceration for five days at
48°F to extract aromas. The juice is then fermented for twenty-six days and aged for twelve to fourteen
months in a combination of French and American oak barrels. The wine is aged in the bottle for ten
months prior to release.
2013:
91 WA |
2012:
91 WE |
2011:
91 WA, 91 WS - Smart Buy, 91 V
| 2010:
91 WA |
2009:
91 WA, 91 WS -
Top 100, 91 V
| 2008:
91 WA, 91 W&S