Catena Zapata

Adrianna Vineyard River

Nicolás Catena dared to plant vines where no one thought they would ripen. His high-altitude wine revolution culminated in the discovery of a new terroir for wine, the Adrianna Vineyard, at almost 5,000 feet elevation.

He discovered that the average temperature decreases with higher altitudes, and the diurnal range increases. The cooler climate at this extreme elevation preserves natural acidity and increases polyphenols, while the intense mountain sunlight strengthens the tannins, producing wines of incredible depth and complexity. The wines consistently prove to have more minerality and acidity than wines from other sites in the Southern Uco Valley at lower altitudes.

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Wine Production

The River sector of Adrianna is planted in the path of a dried-out river. Here, the soils are filled with limestone-covered stones, which provide optimal drainage and moderate extreme temperatures. This stony soil helps develop an incredibly aromatic, rich, and luxurious Malbec.

Tasting Notes

This sector is planted in the path of a dried-out river. The stony soil helps develop an extremely aromatic, rich, and luxurious Malbec. Floral and exuberant, with smooth tannins and a lengthy finish. This wine can be enjoyed young or aged for decades.

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Wine Production

Tasting Notes

Brand Materials

Tech Sheet Bottle Shot Acclaim

POINTS

“The 2021 Malbec Adrianna Vineyard River originates from a small stony plot nestled in an ancient riverbed in Gualtallary, Uco Valley, situated at an elevation of 1,400 meters. It was carefully aged for up to 16 months in foudres and concrete vats. It displays a purple hue with a bright sheen. The nose offers enticing notes of sage and arugula, complemented by chamomile, lavender and huacatay, layered over a base of rosehip and crushed plums. This Malbec exhibits a dry and lean profile reminiscent of Pinot Noir, showcasing a nervous and taut sensation with a silky texture. The refreshing notes and juicy flow linger, creating a harmonious experience. This red wine combines precise harvesting timing with a beautiful 2021 vintage to accentuate its primary profile.”

POINTS

“As its name suggests, this superb Malbec comes from a vineyard planted on limestone-rich soils in an old river bed. The most complete and well balanced of the Adrianna Vineyard reds, it’s a concrete, foudre and old barrel-aged delight with mountain herb top notes, serious grip and concentration, mouth-watering minerality and plum, fennel and blackberry flavours.”

POINTS

“This is a beautifully balanced Malbec, with an elegant character and polished tannins. Floral aromas are followed by soft notes of leather and berries. The palate is very expressive, offering layers of blackberries, raspberries, cassis, licorice and jarilla. It has a silky texture and features optimal acidity, suggesting it will age gracefully.”

POINTS

“This is a beautifully balanced Malbec, with an elegant character and plished tannins. Floral aromas are followed by soft notes of leather and berries. The palate is very expressive, offering layers of blackberries, raspberries, cassis, licorice and jarilla/ It has a silky texture and features optimal acidity, suggesting it will age gracefully.” – (Cellar Selection)

POINTS

“Young and needs time and air to reveal the elegant display of dried violet and mountain herb notes, which cling to the river stone–laced flavors of blueberry and cherry. Reveals traces of floral cassis and spices underneath, with rich chalky tannins on the finish.” 

100

“There is an usual stony austerity in the 2021 Adrianna Vineyard River, cropped from a cold year when the full clusters fermented in concrete with a slightly shorter maceration and an élevage in a 2,000-liter oak foudre and the rest in stainless steel. It has a moderate 13.4% alcohol with very high acidity (8.2!) and a low pH (3.37), incredible parameters of freshness. The wine was closed and took time to take off in the glass, revealing a very elegant and subtle personality, with the silky texture of the very fine tannins, pristine aromas and flavors and a sense of harmony that was moving. It's powerful but extremely elegant in that rare combination of clout and energy, a wine of light, aerial, with some ethereal qualities, delicate and refined. This combines the cool place and high altitude, the cool year and the stony soils, to deliver a stunning Malbec that goes well beyond the variety. Bravo!”

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:

4,800

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:

3.6

Acidity:

6.8 g/L

Alcohol:

13.95 %

Residual sugar:

1.8 g/L

About the Vineyard

Adrianna Vineyard is considered the most studied vineyard in the world. The Catena Institute of Wine has published 25 papers focused on micro-organisms, pollinators, birds, and native vegetation in prestigious peer-reviewed journals. A dedicated task force monitors energy consumption, weather stations map soils, 44 nesting crates provide habitats for native birds, and 39% of the vineyard land remains in virgin conditions.

Each of the Catena Zapata family vineyards is divided into parcels according to their soil composition. These parcels are farmed individually, with an eye on encouraging their most authentic fruit expression. The Adrianna Vineyard wines are Certified Organic by Letis.

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