Catena Zapata
Adrianna Vineyard Mundus Bacillus Terrae Malbec 2018
Other years:
2022| Denomination | N/A |
|---|---|
| Size | 0,75 l |
| Alcohol content | 13.5% by volume |
| Area | Mendoza (Argentina) |
| Grape varieties | 100% Malbec |
| Aging | Aged in French oak for 18–24 months, followed by 24 months in bottle. |
| Other years | 2022 |
- High-altitude origin: Adrianna Vineyard in Gualtallary, located between 1,390 and 1,500 metres in Mendoza
- Grape blend: Predominantly Malbec with around 3% Viognier for added elegance
- Vinification: 70% ferments in French oak barriques, wine is unfiltered
- Aromas: Black fruits, violet, lavender, spices, mineral notes and smoky hints
- Serving: Decant for 1 hour; serve at 16–18 °C with game and beef stews
Description
What kind of wine it is
The Adrianna Vineyard Mundus Bacillus Terrae Malbec by Catena Zapata is an Argentinian red wine from the Mendoza region. This blend of Malbec and Viognier displays deep purple hues. The bouquet reveals notes of black fruits, violets, lavender and smoky nuances. On the palate, it is full-bodied, supported by refined tannins and a vibrant acidity that balances hints of dark chocolate. The lack of filtration enhances its silky texture, leading the tasting towards a persistent savoury finish.
Where it comes from
The grapes come from the renowned Adrianna Vineyard, located in Gualtallary, in the Uco Valley. Situated at high altitudes, the vineyard represents an example of heroic viticulture, capable of imparting excellent freshness. The plot rests on alluvial soils, characterised by calcareous layers and marine fossils. The soil hosts rhizobacteria that support the vines during environmental stress, giving the wine a distinctive mineral character.
How it is produced
The winemaking process enhances the purity of the fruit through temperature-controlled fermentation in new French oak barrels. The malolactic fermentation also takes place in wood, where contact with the fine lees enriches the wine's structure. The process continues with careful ageing in oak in barrels of various sizes, concluding with a period of rest in the cellar that ensures remarkable longevity.
History and Curiosities
Born at an altitude of 1,450 metres in the Uco Valley, the Catena Zapata Adrianna Vineyard 2018 is a sublime example of heroic viticulture. The result of the exclusive Mundus Bacillus Terrae plot, it owes its exceptional concentration to a calcareous soil rich in beneficial rhizobacteria. Awarded 98 Parker points, this majestic Malbec matures in French oak, revealing extraordinary complexity and refined tannins. Bottled without filtration and corked by hand, it offers a vibrant sip, crowned by an elegant and pleasantly savoury finish.
Awards
-
2018
98/100
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.
-
2018
98/100
The prestigious international wine guide from the renowned Robert Parker, the world's most experienced and trusted wine taster.
-
2018
97/100
Vinous is the online guide from Antonio Galloni, one of the world's leading wine connoisseurs.
Tasting notes
Perlage
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 Adrianna Vineyard Mundus Bacillus Terrae Malbec 2018 |
|---|---|
| Type | Red still |
| Denomination | N/A |
| Vintage | 2018 |
| 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 Born at an altitude of 1,450 metres in the Uco Valley, the Catena Zapata Adrianna Vineyard 2018 is a sublime example of heroic viticulture. The result of the exclusive Mundus Bacillus Terrae plot, it owes its exceptional concentration to a calcareous soil rich in beneficial rhizobacteria. Awarded 98 Parker points, this majestic Malbec matures in French oak, revealing extraordinary complexity and refined tannins. Bottled without filtration and corked by hand, it offers a vibrant sip, crowned by an elegant and pleasantly savoury finish. |
| Origin | Adrianna Vineyard, Gualtallary, Tupungato Alto, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina |
| Soil composition | Of alluvial origin, calcareous (calcium carbonate) with marine fossils; layers of limestone; shallow soil with gravel |
| Plants per hectare | 12000 plants per hectare |
| Fermentation temperature | Maximum fermentation temperature 25–30°C |
| Fermentation | 15–30 days |
| Production technique | Fermentation in new French oak barriques (225–500 L) at low controlled temperature, with malolactic fermentation in barrique; unfiltered wine |
| Wine making | 70% of the grapes ferment in new French oak barriques of 225–500 litres for 15–30 days at a low controlled temperature; alcoholic and malolactic fermentation take place in barriques with significant lees and sediment present; maturation in French oak for 18–24 months, followed by 24 months in bottle. |
| Aging | Aged in French oak for 18–24 months, followed by 24 months in bottle. |
| Total acidity | 6.5 gr/L |
| PH | 3.58 |
| Allergens | Contains sulphites |