Catena Appellation Paraje Altamira Malbec

Catena Appellation Paraje Altamira Malbec

Wine Description

In Burgundy, the Vins de Village are wines from grapes grown in the territory of certain villages that give their name to the appellation, such as Volnay, Pommard, Meursault, or Vosne-Romanée. The Village vineyards are small and often owned by siblings and cousins within the same family. This is due to the Napoleonic Code, which establishes that at a person's death, their land is divided equally among their heirs.

As a Latin country, Argentina shares the Napoleonic Code, and over half of the vineyards in Mendoza are less than four hectares in size and owned by multiple family members. Each village has its own culture with favorite foods, winemaking traditions, and distinctive flavors. Catena’s Appellation wines express the diversity of terroir and the historic farming customs of these local families. 

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Acclaim
Another highlight of the Catena Appellation range is the 2022 Appellation Paraje Altamira Malbec, opening with the region's signature purple-flower note and accented with fresh herbs and a citrus-driven zest quality. On the palate, it combines a svelte, seamless purity with lifted, focused energy that runs through the crunchy, high-toned finish. — Wine Advocate, May 2025
“The 2022 Malbec Catena Appellation Altamira comes from the Uco Valley. Aged for up to 13 months in French oak barrels (both new and used), this purple-hued wine reveals crystal-clear, fruit-forward aromas with hints of balsamic and lavender. On the palate, it is dry, rich and juicy, delivering intense flavors and supple textures.” — Vinous, May 2024
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Vineyard & Production Info
Production area/appellation:
Paraje Altamira
Vineyard size
75 acres
Soil composition
Clay-Loam, Silty-Loam, and Sandy-Loam
Training method
VSP
Elevation:
3,613 feet
Vines/acre:
1800
Yield/acre:
2.8 tons
Exposure:
Northwestern
Year vineyard planted:
1996
Harvest time:
March 18-April 20
First vintage of this wine:
2006
Average Vine Age:
21
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Winemaking & Aging
Prefermentation Technique:
Cold maceration
Maceration length:
10
Varietal composition:
100% Malbec
Fermentation container:
Stainless steel tanks
Length of alcoholic fermentation:
16 days
Fermentation temperature:
80 °F
Maceration technique:
Pumpovers
Malolactic fermentation:
Yes
Type of aging container:
Barrels
Size of aging container:
225
Type of oak:
French
Length of aging before bottling:
12 months
Age of Aging Container:
New
Length of bottle aging:
10 months
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Analytical Data
pH level:
3.5
Acidity:
6.15 g/L
Alcohol:
13.4 %
Residual sugar:
<2 g/L