Catena Alta Cabernet Sauvignon

Catena Alta Cabernet Sauvignon

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
accordion plus icons
Acclaim
“Blackberries, wild raspberries, currants, lemon leaves, licorice and dried spices on the nose. It’s medium-bodied with firm, silky tannins. Very fine and precise. Fantastic freshness.”
— James Suckling, Mar 2022
“The Cabernet Sauvignon that makes up all but 4% of this blend with Cabernet Franc is the so-called Margaux clone. Combining fruit from Agrelo, Paraje Altamira and Villa Bastías, the result is a fine, elegant, harmonious red with cassis and red cherry flavours underpinned by graceful tannins and framed by oak.”
— Tim Atkin, MW, May 2021
View more acclaim Arrow Right
accordion plus icons
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
accordion plus icons
Winemaking & Aging
Maceration length:
30 days
Varietal composition:
96% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% 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
accordion plus icons
Analytical Data
pH level:
3.6
Acidity:
5.78 g/L
Alcohol:
13.7 %