Catena Zapata
Adrianna Vineyard Mundus Bacillus Terrae Malbec 2022
Other years:
2018| Denomination | N/A |
|---|---|
| Size | 0,75 l |
| Alcohol content | 13.5% by volume |
| Area | Mendoza (Argentina) |
| Grape varieties | 100% Malbec |
| Aging | Ageing in French oak barrels for 18–24 months, followed by 24 months of ageing in the bottle before release. |
| Other years | 2018 |
- Origin: Vineyard at 1,390 metres in the Adrianna Vineyard, Gualtallary, Uco Valley
- Composition: 97% Malbec and 3% Viognier for an intense dry red wine
- Vinification: Fermentation in concrete and wooden barrels, 15-day maceration
- Ageing: 24 months in French oak barriques, ideal for long ageing
- Notes and pairings: Aromas of plum, cocoa and smoke; ideal with game and braised meats
Description
Type of wine
Catena Zapata’s Adrianna Vineyard Mundus Bacillus Terrae Malbec is a still red wine with the Mendoza Geographical Indication, aged in oak barrels and structured for long ageing. Produced from a blend of Malbec and Viognier, it is distinguished by an intense and deep violet-black colour. On the nose, hints of red fruits, plum, and violet emerge, accompanied by smoky notes and delicate hints of coconut and tobacco. On the palate, it reveals a full-bodied structure, vibrant acidity, and prominent tannins with a silky texture, offering a dense tasting experience with aromas of cassis and dark chocolate leading towards a persistent and savoury finish.
Where it comes from
This wine originates from the Adrianna vineyard, located in the Mendoza region, specifically in the Gualtallary area within the Uco Valley. The vines grow in a small plot at a high altitude of 1,390 metres. The alluvial soils are characterised by a limestone matrix rich in marine fossils and rhizobacteria, micro-organisms that promote the absorption of nutrients by the roots. This unique geological composition gives the wine a distinct mineral imprint and a taut, elegant profile.
How it is produced
Fermentation takes place predominantly in concrete tanks using whole bunches, while a portion of the must ferments in French oak. Manual cap management allows for controlled maceration, followed by malolactic fermentation carried out in wood. The wine then matures for twenty-four months in oak barrels, completing its journey with a rest in the bottle which refines its velvety texture.
History and interesting facts
Produced at an altitude of 1,390 metres in Mendoza, the Catena Zapata Adrianna Vineyard ‘Elegant Microbes of the Earth’ Malbec is a true standout. Its name pays tribute to the precious rhizobacteria present in the alluvial soils rich in marine fossils, which are fundamental for nourishing the roots.
Awards
-
2022
97/100
Decanter is a wine and lifestyle magazine, published monthly in around 90 countries. The magazine includes industry news, classic guides and advice on wine and spirits.
-
2022
99/100
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
99/100
The prestigious international wine guide from the renowned Robert Parker, the world's most experienced and trusted wine taster.
-
2022
97/100
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 Adrianna Vineyard Mundus Bacillus Terrae 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 interesting facts Produced at an altitude of 1,390 metres in Mendoza, the Catena Zapata Adrianna Vineyard ‘Elegant Microbes of the Earth’ Malbec is a true standout. Its name pays tribute to the precious rhizobacteria present in the alluvial soils rich in marine fossils, which are fundamental for nourishing the roots. |
| Origin | Uco Valley (Gualtallary, Upper Tupungato), Mendoza, Argentina |
| Climate | Altitude: 1,450 m above sea level |
| Soil composition | Alluvial origin with calcareous soils, scattered limestone, marine fossils and rich in rhizobacteria that help the vine roots manage stress and absorb nutrients. |
| Plants per hectare | 12,000 plants/ha |
| Fermentation temperature | 25 to 30 °C |
| Fermentation | 12 days |
| Production technique | Fermentation primarily in concrete vats with a high percentage of whole bunches and partly in French oak barriques/foudres; manual cap management; alcoholic and malolactic fermentation in barriques. |
| Wine making | 70% of the grapes ferment in new French oak barriques of 225–500 litres for 15–30 days, at a low temperature to encourage the extraction of intense aromas; cap management is carried out manually to ensure sweet flavours. Both alcoholic and malolactic fermentation take place in barriques, leaving significant lees and sediment. |
| Aging | Ageing in French oak barrels for 18–24 months, followed by 24 months of ageing in the bottle before release. |
| Total acidity | 7.3 gr/L |
| PH | 3.58 |
| Allergens | Contains sulphites |