HIGH MOUNTAIN ESTATE VINEYARDS

For over four generations, the Catena family has grown vines in the foothills of the Andes Mountains in Mendoza, Argentina. Laura Catena, great-granddaughter of winery founder Nicola Catena, has created a Malbec blend with dense black-fruit aromatics and a smooth, lengthy finish that has become the family´s trademark characteristic. Catena Malbec is sourced from the family´s high-altitude vineyards in Maipú, Lujan de Cuyo, Tupungato and San Carlos. From the marriage of these historic parcels emerges a wine of a unique character that has natural balance, concentration and a distinct varietal identity.

TASTING NOTES

The 2009 Catena Malbec presents a dark, violet color with deep black tones. This microclimate blend of four unique vineyard sites offers intense aromas with a soft generous texture and concentrated flavors. Angelica vineyard lends ripe plum and chocolate flavors with a very soft, supple mouthfeel. Altamira in La Consulta vineyard brings a core of black currant and cassis, with excellent structure and length. La Piramide vineyard offers blackberry fruit with a slight earthy tone and notes of spicy black pepper. Finally, the Adrianna vineyard lends exceptional concentration with explosive floral aromatics. Together they give birth to a complex blend of aromas and flavors – a wine with excellent concentration, balance and freshness.

VINIFICATION

This wine goes through an extensive cold maceration for 8-10 days at 45°F to extract aromas. The juice is then fermented for 14 days with a post-fermentation maceration of 16 days to extract flavors and structure; malolactic fermentation happens in barrel; the wine is aged for 14 months in 70% French oak (35% new) and 30% American oak.

VINTAGE

The sanitary conditions, aromas, tannin development, especially in the reds, were absolutely perfect. The weather stayed dry from the end of December through May, with moderate temperatures, almost no rains, sunny and breezy at night. The key to this vintage was judicious irrigation management. Drip irrigated vineyards had a definite advantage. We had the opportunity to stress each and every vine just the right amount.