Catena Zapata Adrianna Vineyard River

Catena Zapata Adrianna Vineyard River

Wine Description

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. 

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
“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.”
— Wine Spectator, Dec 2021
“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.”
— Wine Advocate, Mar 2021
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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:
22
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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
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Analytical Data
pH level:
3.65
Acidity:
6.8 g/L
Alcohol:
13.8 %
Residual sugar:
1.8 g/L