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
“Pulled from vineyards at the foot of the Andes in the Uco Valley, this captures the fresh mountain influence as well as the cold 2013 vintage in its spicy and refreshing flavors, the wine rich in crunchy, juicy cherry and blackberry notes. Open now for meat lasagna, or save it for a couple of years, as the tannins still need a little bit of time to calm.”
— Wine & Spirits, Feb 2016
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Vineyard & Production Info
Vineyard name
The La Pirámide, Nicasia, and Adrianna vineyards
Soil composition
Calcareous and Stony
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
Length of bottle aging:
10
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Analytical Data
pH level:
3.8
Acidity:
5.6 g/L
Alcohol:
13.5 %
Residual sugar:
1.8 g/L