Catena Alta Cabernet Sauvignon

Catena Alta Cabernet Sauvignon bottle image

Wine Description

In the mid-nineties, in an effort to produce a super-premium wine, the winemaking team of Catena began an in-depth investigation into the yields from specially selected, high altitude vineyards, identifying the individual rows that produce the best fruit. Catena Alta is an assemblage of these historic rows within the Catena family’s estate vineyards. The blend of these rows, like the blend of musical notes that compose a symphony, creates a wine that is layered and complex, concentrated yet nuanced.

Before the world recognized Argentina as “Malbec Country,” Bodega Catena Zapata was known for its old world style Cabernet Sauvignon born in the clay soils of Agrelo. The family cherishes its historic Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards in Agrelo and Tupungato particularly for the ageability and classic varietal characteristics of the wines produced from their grapes.

Catena Alta Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from Block 3 of the La Pirámide Vineyard in the Agrelo district of Luján de Cuyo, Block 2 of the Domingo Vineyard in the Villa Bastías district of Tupungato, and Block 2 of the Nicasia Vineyard in the Altamira district of San Carlos in the southern end of the Uco Valley.

Remington-Mendoza
Laura Catena sits at a table with a glass of wine
Malbec Grapes
Alejandro Vigil (Chief Winemaker) and Laura Catena Tasting
Malbec Clone in La Piramide Vineyard
Nicolás Catena
Bodega Catena Zapata
Bodega Catena Zapata
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Acclaim
“A dark-red/violet color blended with 3 percent Cabernet Franc and 2 percent Petit Verdot. On the nose, blackberry, currant, pepper spice and tobacco. On the palate, full-bodied, soft tannins in a well-balanced wine that radiates flavors like the aromas. This wine has aged very well.”
— Smoke Signal News, Sep 2020
“It is an amazing showing, offering inviting aromas and flavors of juicy ripe blackberries, sweet cassis, mocha, loam, herbs and freshly cut floral. Dense, concentrated with wonderful finesse and structure. Firm and polished leading up to the long supple, yet firm finish. This is a fantastic Cabernet from Catena and will easily rival many Cabernet's well beyond its suggested release price.”
— International Wine Report, Jun 2013
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Vineyard & Production Info
Vineyard name
The La Pirámide, Domingo, and Nicasia vineyards
Soil composition
Depending on vineyard: Sand, loam, clay and limestone, Surface stones.
Training method
VSP
Elevation:
3,117-3,675 feet
Yield/acre:
1.2 tons
Exposure:
Northwestern
Harvest time:
Mid-April
First vintage of this wine:
1994
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Winemaking & Aging
Maceration length:
16
Varietal composition:
88% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Cabernet Franc
Fermentation container:
Barriques and Barrels
Length of alcoholic fermentation:
16-35 days
Maceration technique:
Punchdown
Malolactic fermentation:
Yes
Type of aging container:
Barriques
Size of aging container:
225 L
Type of oak:
French
Length of aging before bottling:
18 months
Age of Aging Container:
New-Two years
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Analytical Data
pH level:
3.6
Acidity:
6.3 g/L
Alcohol:
14 %