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, idedntifying 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
“This is a beautiful Cabernet Sauvignon with pretty ripe fruit and currants, blackberries and spices. Full and silky. Fine finish.”
— James Suckling, Jun 2015
“Winemaker Alejandro Vigil chose vines for this Cabernet from Lot 3 of the La Pirámide vineyard and Lot 3 from the Domingo vineyard. The wine opens with aromas of anise, blueberry, blackberry preserves and cedar. There are flavors of dill, red bell pepper, blackberry and a long and lingering finish. This polished effort has wonderful terroir. This is an attractive and novel bottling for the price.”
— International Wine Report, Oct 2015
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Vineyard & Production Info
Vineyard name
Lot 3, La Piramide Vineyard, Agrelo, Luján de Cuyo.
Soil composition
Sandy-Loam
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
Bottles produced of this wine:
60,000
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Winemaking & Aging
Maceration length:
30 days
Varietal composition:
90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% 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
Length of bottle aging:
24 months
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Analytical Data
pH level:
3.6
Acidity:
3.6 g/L
Alcohol:
14 %
Residual sugar:
2 g/L