Catena Alta Malbec

Catena Alta Malbec 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.

Nicola Catena planted his first Malbec vineyard in Mendoza in 1902. His grandson, Nicolás Catena, is known as the man who revolutionized Argentine wine and introduced high altitude Malbec to the world. The historic Catena Zapata vineyards are planted with the Catena family’s proprietary selection of Malbec vines: the Catena Cuttings. Catena Alta Malbec is sourced from Block 18 of the Angélica Vineyard in Lunlunta, Block 4 of the La Pirámide Vineyard in Agrelo, Block 1 of the Nicasia Vineyard in the Altamira district of San Carlos and Blocks 3 & 9 of the Adrianna Vineyard in Gualtallary. 

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
Very concentrated, with dark fig and currant paste notes, but it's also pure and driven, with intense mocha, bittersweet cocoa and melted licorice notes that stretch out the long, polished finish. Really gorgeous for its density and mouthfeel.
— Wine Spectator, Nov 2008
Top Wines of 2009: #75 - Inky dark and an outstanding example of high-end Malbec. This is the finest Alta we've tried; it is ripe as can be but not raisiny. The palate is creamy and lush, but with good acidic balance. And the flavors of black fruits, chocolate and spice make it a league-leader.
— Wine Enthusiast, Jan 2010
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Vineyard & Production Info
Vineyard name
Angélica, La Pirámide, La Consulta and Adrianna vineyards
Vineyard size
N/A acres
Soil composition
Sand, Loam
Training method
VSP
Elevation:
2,850-4,725 feet
Vines/acre:
2200
Yield/acre:
.8-1.2 tons
Exposure:
Northwestern
Year vineyard planted:
Various
Harvest time:
March - April
First vintage of this wine:
1996
Bottles produced of this wine:
60,000
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Winemaking & Aging
Maceration length:
32
Varietal composition:
100% Malbec
Fermentation container:
Small format fermentation bins
Length of alcoholic fermentation:
10-50 days
Fermentation temperature:
82 °F
Maceration technique:
Manual Punch Down
Malolactic fermentation:
Yes
Type of aging container:
Barrique
Size of aging container:
225 L
Type of oak:
French Oak
Length of aging before bottling:
18 months
Age of Aging Container:
70% New
Length of bottle aging:
2 years
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Analytical Data
pH level:
3.6
Acidity:
5.6 g/L
Alcohol:
14 %