Catena Zapata
Catena Alta Malbec 2021
| Denomination | N/A |
|---|---|
| Size | 0,75 l |
| Alcohol content | 13.5% by volume |
| Area | Mendoza (Argentina) |
| Grape varieties | 100% Malbec |
| Aging | 12–18 months in French oak |
- Wine and vintage: Catena Alta Malbec Catena Zapata 2021, still red wine with an alcohol content of 13.5%
- Grape variety and origin: 100% Malbec from Mendoza, vineyards between 920 and 1,450 metres
- Aromatic profile: notes of raspberry and blackberry, floral accents, dark chocolate and liquorice
- Vinification and ageing: indigenous yeasts, aged 12-18 months in French oak
- Serving and pairings: decant for 1 hour at 15-18°C; ideal with red meats and cheeses
Description
What kind of wine it is
The Catena Alta Malbec from Catena Zapata is an Argentinian red wine from Mendoza, a pure expression of the Malbec grape variety. It stands out for its refined aromatic profile, dominated by notes of raspberry and blackberry, enhanced by floral nuances, hints of dark chocolate and a touch of liquorice. On the palate, it is dry, dense and mature, ensuring an excellent balance between freshness and structure. The sip is full and enveloping, supported by lively acidity and a distinct mineral texture, with velvety tannins leading to a long and persistent finish.
Where it comes from
The grapes come from the prestigious Mendoza region, selected from parcels vinified separately: Angelica, La Pirámide, Nicasia, Adrianna and Angelica Sur. The vineyards are located at altitudes between 920 and 1,450 metres and are characterised by alluvial soils and excellent sun exposure. The strong temperature variations typical of these high-altitude areas favour optimal ripening, allowing the development of deep and complex aromas that remain intact in the glass.
How it is produced
Production involves manual harvesting by individual plots, with separate vinification to preserve the identity of each parcel. Fermentation and maceration take place over 28-30 days thanks to the action of indigenous yeasts. The processes of alcoholic and malolactic fermentation occur in French oak barrels, where the wine rests with gentle bâtonnage. This is followed by ageing for 12-18 months, also in barrels, which is essential to enrich the wine with sweet spice notes and give it an extraordinarily silky texture.
History and Curiosities
Catena Alta Malbec embodies the prestige of a pioneering family in Argentine viticulture, rooted in Mendoza since 1902. This elegant red reflects Nicolás Catena's insight in cultivating specific clones between 920 and 1,450 metres above sea level. To enhance the terroir, each plot is vinified separately in barriques with indigenous yeasts. The exceptional 2021 vintage, awarded 95 points by Vinous and Suckling, offers a dense structure with velvety tannins, enriched by a profound mineral streak.
Awards
-
2021
95/100
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.
-
2021
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 2021 |
|---|---|
| Type | Red still |
| Denomination | N/A |
| Vintage | 2021 |
| 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 Catena Alta Malbec embodies the prestige of a pioneering family in Argentine viticulture, rooted in Mendoza since 1902. This elegant red reflects Nicolás Catena's insight in cultivating specific clones between 920 and 1,450 metres above sea level. To enhance the terroir, each plot is vinified separately in barriques with indigenous yeasts. The exceptional 2021 vintage, awarded 95 points by Vinous and Suckling, offers a dense structure with velvety tannins, enriched by a profound mineral streak. |
| Origin | Vigneto Angelica, Maipú, Luján de Cuyo |
| Soil composition | Alluvial origin |
| Fermentation | 28–30 days |
| Production technique | Fermentation and maceration for 28–30 days with indigenous yeasts; alcoholic and malolactic fermentation in barriques; active bâtonnage; separate vinification by plot |
| Wine making | The whole berries are hand-picked into small fermentation crates and barrels of 225-500 L. The batches from each vineyard are treated individually. Fermentation and maceration last 28-30 days with wild yeasts. Alcoholic and malolactic fermentation take place in barrel; the wine undergoes active bâtonnage to protect it and drastically reduce the amount of sulphur dioxide required. |
| Aging | 12–18 months in French oak |
| Total acidity | 6.0 gr/L |
| PH | 3.61 |
| Allergens | Contains sulphites |