Catena Malbec

Catena Malbec bottle image

Wine Description

The Catena Malbec is sourced and blended from the family´s high-altitude vineyards in Maipú, Luján de Cuyo, Tupungato and San Carlos. Each vineyard is divided into lots that are harvested at different times and are specifically farmed in preparation for their role in the final blend. The old vines in the Angélica Vineyard in the Lunlunta district in Maipú produce grapes that lend soft, sweet texture. The lauded Catena cuttings in the La Pirámide Vineyard in the Agrelo district of Luján de Cuyo add spicy notes to the wine. The cold nights in the Altamira district of San Carlos, where Catena’s Nicasia Vineyard is located, help to grow grapes with bright, crisp acidity and the intense sunshine in the Adrianna Vineyard in the Gualtallary district of Tupungato, give the grapes explosive floral aromatics and firm but silky soft tannins. This combination of different vineyard components results in a wine with heightened complexities and unique character that is full-bodied yet balanced, concentrated and complex while retaining true varietal character.

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
“The 2011 Catena Malbec is produced with fruit grown in Lunlunta, Agrelo and Gualtallary fermented together with a little bit of Viognier from high altitude, which according to winemaker Alejandro Vigil had an amazing eight grams of acidity which contributed a lot of freshness to the blend. 30% of bunches fermented without destemming and as is common in the top Catena wines, these grapes from four different regions were harvested at three different points in time in search of diversity. This is very dark cherry-colored and has strong aromas of ripe plums, peach and apricot with some notes of orange rind. Medium-bodied with velvety, silky tannins, it is a good representation of Malbec in Mendoza.”
— Luis Gutierrez, Apr 2014
The 2011 Catena Malbec is absolutely delicious. Ripe and concentrated with sweet blackberries and reduced plums followed by spices, mocha, loam and hints of fresh violets. The full, plush texture is nicely polished with no hard edges as it glides effortlessly into the long, mouth-coating finish. This is a remarkable effort and a serious value.
— International Wine Report, Jun 2013
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Vineyard & Production Info
Vineyard name
The La Pirámide, Nicasia, and Adrianna vineyards
Soil composition
Depending on site - clay, sand and limestone, calcareous deposits and surface stones
Training method
VSP
Elevation:
3,084-4,757 feet
Vines/acre:
2,200
Exposure:
Northwestern
First vintage of this wine:
1994
Bottles produced of this wine:
780,000
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Winemaking & Aging
Maceration length:
5 days; 24
Varietal composition:
100% Malbec
Fermentation container:
Barriques
Length of alcoholic fermentation:
26 days
Fermentation temperature:
75 - 80 °F
Maceration technique:
Cold Soak Maceration; Racking, Punchdown, and Pumpovers
Malolactic fermentation:
Yes
Type of aging container:
Barriques
Size of aging container:
225 L
Type of oak:
American and French
Length of aging before bottling:
12-14 months
Age of Aging Container:
New-Two years
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Analytical Data
pH level:
3.7
Acidity:
5.6 g/L
Alcohol:
13.5 %