Catena Alta Malbec

Catena Alta Malbec bottle image
Catena Alta Malbec bottle image

POS Materials

Tech Sheet Download Bottle Shot Download Acclaim Linkout

Catena Alta Malbec

Catena Alta is an assemblage of historic rows within the Catena family State vineyards. The blend of these historic rows, like the combination of sounds that create a symphony, give us highly aromatic and elegant wine that speaks for the terroir and the vines that have been tended by the four generations of the Catena Family. "Alta" means high in Spanish. This makes reference to the high altitud vineyards from where the grapes are sourced, and to the high end wines that are produced with this special grapes.

All Products →

Tasting Notes

The 2015 Catena Alta Malbec presents a deep violet color, with blue reflections. The nose is elegant and complex, offers ripe red and black berry fruits aromas with notes of flowers as violet and lavander,  leather and a touch of spices  and  vanilla flavors. The mouthfeel is full and rich, with sweet tanins and smooth structure. The mid palate offers different layers as blackberries and black currant fruit flavors  with hints of licorice notes, vanilla and black pepper. The lengthy finish shows wonderful minerality, with finely grained tannins and lively acidity. 

Food Pairing

Pair with braised duck with apples, or Grilled beef filet.

Catena Alta is an assemblage of historic rows within the Catena family State vineyards. The blend of these historic rows, like the combination of sounds that create a symphony, give us highly aromatic and elegant wine that speaks for the terroir and the vines that have been tended by the four generations of the Catena Family. "Alta" means high in Spanish. This makes reference to the high altitud vineyards from where the grapes are sourced, and to the high end wines that are produced with this special grapes.

All Products →

Tasting Notes

The 2015 Catena Alta Malbec presents a deep violet color, with blue reflections. The nose is elegant and complex, offers ripe red and black berry fruits aromas with notes of flowers as violet and lavander,  leather and a touch of spices  and  vanilla flavors. The mouthfeel is full and rich, with sweet tanins and smooth structure. The mid palate offers different layers as blackberries and black currant fruit flavors  with hints of licorice notes, vanilla and black pepper. The lengthy finish shows wonderful minerality, with finely grained tannins and lively acidity. 

Food Pairing

Pair with braised duck with apples, or Grilled beef filet.

Brand Materials

Tech Sheet Download Bottle Shot Download Acclaim Linkout
95
POINTS
“Pretty and subtle dark-berry and floral aromas follow through to a very precise, medium-bodied palate with sweet and supple fruit and tannins. Tangy, fresh finish. 50 per cent fermented in open-top barrels and 50 per cent in barrel. Very old vines used.”
James Suckling
93
POINTS
BEST VALLEY CHOICE MENDOZA: “Alta comes from a selection of vineyards in different parts of Mendoza, but with an emphasis on grapes from the Adrianna Vineyard, 1,400 m a.s.l. in Gualtallary. They made about 3,500 12-bottle cases of this blend, which is not at all insignificant for a wine that’s whole-cluster fermented in barrels. It’s also barrel-aged for 16 months, and the result is a wine with liqueur-like notes, but with lots of acidity and very powerful firm-textured tannins. For the cellar.”
Descorchados
93
POINTS
“Showcasing the blending skills of Alejandro Vigil, this partially whole bunch-fermented, Uco Valley-meets-the-primera-zona Malbec comes from Agrelo, La Consulta, Gualtallary and Lunlunta. Effortlessly aromatic, with fine tannins, chalky acidity and a twist of the pepper grinder.”
Tim Atkin, MW
93
POINTS
"Wonderfully fresh violets on the nose with just a hint of clove. Rich, powerful, creamy and fresh, with a long, polished finish. A serious Argentinian Malbec with great balance."
James Suckling
93
POINTS
“As with the other varietals of the range, I also had two vintages of this to compare, starting with the older 2015 Catena Alta Malbec. It is a mixture of grapes from multiple vineyards: Angelica, La Pirámide, Nicasia, Adrianna and Angélica Sur. It fermented in 225- and 500-liter oak barrels and had an élevage of some 18 months in French oak. You can notice the slightly riper year, and it does suffer a bit in comparison with the truly superb 2016 even though it's a noteworthy expression of Malbec with great freshness for the climatic conditions of the year.”
Wine Advocate
90+
“Medium ruby-red. Complex aromas and flavors of black raspberry, currant, licorice and bitter chocolate; not quite as black fruit in character as many Argentine Malbecs. Classic intensely flavored, saline wine with excellent density and a touch of sweetness without any impression of weight. Very classy juice--but I'd give its dusty tannins another year or so to harmonize with the wine's fruit.”
Vinous
90
POINTS
“This great value bottling begins with aromas of red currant jelly, black tea, and coffee grounds. The balance, poise, and salinity of the wine is really nice, as the wine begins to reveal flavors of Chinese black tea, mocha, and cassis with a touch of anise.”
Washington Wine Blog
90
POINTS
“Woodsy aromas of black fruit and gingerbread create a friendly nose […] with dense berry flavors that are foresty, minty and oaky. Spice and chocolate mint flavors blend with lightly herbal berry notes on the finish.”
Wine Enthusiast
90
POINTS
“Finely textured, offering concentrated dark plum, cream and spice flavors that are well-structured. The finish lengthens out nicely, with minerally notes.”
Wine Spectator
90
POINTS
“Finely textured, offering concentrated dark plum, cream and spice flavors that are well-structured. The finish lengthens out nicely, with minerally notes.”
Wine Spectator
89
POINTS
“Healthy red-ruby. Inky aromas of blackberry, licorice and tar, with some leathery funkiness. Smooth and subtly sweet but with brisk acidity to frame its flavors of tart red berries. Finishes a bit unyielding, with firm tannins and good length. This and the basic Cabernet are vinified and aged mostly in tank.”
Vinous
“Deep cherry red. Gently dark-fruited and fragrant. Beautifully subtle and elegant on the palate. There's plenty of fruit though it is not fruit forward thanks to excellent harmony of the parts - fruit and tannins and freshness. It becomes a little more expressive in the glass and shows an attractive dusty/stony quality. A hint of oak spice and oak sweetness on the finish and the silkiest of tannins already - but no sense it is not going to age well. So fresh and supple. Tastes fresher than the numbers suggest.”
Jancis Robinson
“All the haters who like to complain about Malbec being a ‘one note’ grape can go suck it.” (A-)
1 Wine Dude

Vineyard & Production Info

Vineyard name:
The Angélica, La Pirámide, Nicasia and Adrianna vineyards
Vineyard size:
N/A acres
Soil composition:
Depending on site - sand, loam, clay, calcareous deposits, limestone, surface stones
Elevation:
3,018-4,757 feet
Vines/acre:
2200
Yield/acre:
1.2 ton tons
Exposure:
Northwestern
Year vineyard planted:
Various
Harvest time:
March - April
First vintage of this wine:
1996

Winemaking & Aging

Prefermentation Technique:
Cold maceration
Maceration length:
28-30
Varietal composition:
100% Malbec
Fermentation container:
Small format fermentation, French oak barrels, stainless steel tanks
Length of alcoholic fermentation:
10 - 18 days
Maceration technique:
Manual Punching Down
Malolactic fermentation:
Yes
Type of aging container:
Barriques
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:
24 months

Analytical Data

pH level:
3.5
Alcohol:
13.5 %