Catena Zapata

Adrianna Vineyard River

The River Stones sector of Adrianna is planted in the path of a dried river filled with white stones covered with lime - limestone. These stones make for optimal drainage and extreme temperatures because the stones absorb the heat and moderate the nights but also function like ice cubes after a very cold night. Stony soil Malbecs tend to be extremely aromatic, rich and luxurious, just like the River Stones Malbec from Adrianna.

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Tasting Notes

Descriptors: floral, exuberant, lengthy smooth tannins, metallic.

Food Pairing

Grilled meat.

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Tasting Notes

Descriptors: floral, exuberant, lengthy smooth tannins, metallic.

Food Pairing

Grilled meat.

Brand Materials

Tech Sheet Bottle Shot Acclaim

POINTS

“The 2018 Adrianna Vineyard River Stones is always the freshest and most austere of the three single-plot bottlings from the Adrianna Vineyard on Gualtallary. This fermented with some 70% full clusters, as it was harvested at three different times and the first two fermented with full clusters and the last pick was added destemmed to the fermentation. The nose is subtle, elegant and nuanced; the grapes were picked quite early in 2018 and that ensured a vibrant palate with almost citrus (blood orange) sensations. A small percentage of the wine matured in stainless steel. They have been working with the irrigation and only irrigated it four times that year, achieving more precision in the viticulture, which gets reflected in the balance of the wine. This has very fine tannins, a very fine thread and a dry, long and tasty finish. This is markedly stony, true to the character of the place. Red fruit, textured and mineral.”

POINTS

“From grapes planted in 1992 on soils rich in gravel covered with calcium carbonate in a place that was once a creek bed, about 1,350 meters high in the Adrianna Vineyard in the Monasterio zone, a place to keep very much in mind when talking about the best terroirs in Argentina. And there at the foot of the Andes, the soils and climate are strongly influenced by the mountain breezes. This River Stones vintage is especially honest, with its up-front aromas of red fruits as well as herbs and flowers in a wine full of vitality. Perhaps you'll think this red is too simple and fruity—but our theory is that there's a long road ahead, years even, for this wine that's almost naive (but oh so fresh) to gain in complexity. A pure and honest expression of place.” – (One of the Best Reds of the Year)

Descorchados

POINTS

“River Stones hails from Lot 6 of the Adrianna Vineyard in Gualtallary and is located in a dry riverbed with lots of calcium carbonate. Textured, rich and intense, this is fresher and more focused than some recent vintages, with orange peel and black cherry flavours, good underlying grip, filigree tannins and scented oak.”

POINTS

“Riverstone is a 1.6-hectare parcel of Malbec grown in a dry river bed of stones coated in calcium carbonate. The winemaking process begins with fermentation in 500-liter barrels, followed by 20 months’ aging in French oak barrels. Expressive, like all wines grown in stony soil, this is also fruity with notes of sour cherry, raspberry and lavender. The palate is quite intense, offering hints of chalk that define the texture and a saline flavor that enhances and channels the effect in the mouth.”

POINTS

“Structured and well-knit, with rich acidity backing red currant and dark cherry flavors that show notes of black olive. Slate and tarry hints midpalate lead to a finish powered by accents of forest floor.”

100

“This is really something. There’s purity and focus to the aromas of crushed berries, licorice and black tea, which follow through to an integrated palate of extremely fine, melted tannins that spread to the very ends of the wine. This is all about balance and length. It really is an emotional wine. Great follow-up to the 2017, which was also 100 points.”– #4 among the Top 100 Wines of Argentina 2020

James Suckling

Vineyard & Production Info

Vineyard name:

Adrianna Vineyard

Vineyard size:

288 acres

Soil composition:

Calcareous and Silty-Loam

Training method:

VSP

Elevation:

4,500 feet

Vines/acre:

1800

Exposure:

Northwestern

Year vineyard planted:

1992

Harvest time:

Third week of April

First vintage of this wine:

2011

Bottles produced of this wine:

3,800

Average Vine Age:

Winemaking & Aging

Prefermentation Technique:

Cold maceration

Time on its skins:

8 days

Varietal composition:

100% Malbec

Fermentation container:

Barrels

Length of alcoholic fermentation:

17 days

Maceration technique:

Punchdown

Malolactic fermentation:

Full

Type of aging container:

Barriques and Barrels

Size of aging container:

500 L

Type of oak:

French

Length of aging before bottling:

2 years

Length of bottle aging:

2 years

Analytical Data

pH level:

3.65

Acidity:

6.8 g/L

Alcohol:

13.8 %

Residual sugar:

1.8 g/L

About the Vineyard

Over the years, Nicolás Catena Zapata discovered the influence altitude has on fruit quality. As one climbs the altitudes of the Andes the average temperature decreases and the amplitude between day and night temperatures increases. Named after Nicolás Catena Zapata’s youngest daughter, the Adrianna Vineyard is located at almost 5,000 feet elevation in Mendoza. The soils in this 1.4 hectare parcel are filled with scattered limestone and marine deposits that covered the region millions of years ago.

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