Catena Alta Cabernet Sauvignon

Catena Alta Cabernet Sauvignon bottle image

Wine Description

In the mid-nineties, in an effort to produce a super-premium wine, the winemaking team of Catena began an in-depth investigation into the yields from specially selected, high altitude vineyards, identifying the individual rows that produce the best fruit. Catena Alta is an assemblage of these historic rows within the Catena family’s estate vineyards. The blend of these rows, like the blend of musical notes that compose a symphony, creates a wine that is layered and complex, concentrated yet nuanced.

Before the world recognized Argentina as “Malbec Country,” Bodega Catena Zapata was known for its old world style Cabernet Sauvignon born in the clay soils of Agrelo. The family cherishes its historic Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards in Agrelo and Tupungato particularly for the ageability and classic varietal characteristics of the wines produced from their grapes.

Catena Alta Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from Block 3 of the La Pirámide Vineyard in the Agrelo district of Luján de Cuyo, Block 2 of the Domingo Vineyard in the Villa Bastías district of Tupungato, and Block 2 of the Nicasia Vineyard in the Altamira district of San Carlos in the southern end of the Uco Valley.

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
Good deep ruby-red. Smoky blackberry, black raspberry, licorice, dark chocolate and pepper on the nose, with mint and mineral nuances adding complexity. Broad, suave and on the dry side, with lovely delineation to the flavors of dark fruits, licorice and pepper. At once big and fresh. The serious, building tannins are quite fine, allowing the fruit to stretch out and gain in creaminess on the long aftertaste.
— International Wine Cellar, Jan 2010
Opaque violet in color, it delivers a fragrant bouquet of cinnamon, fresh herbs, tobacco, cassis, and black currant. This is followed by a medium-bodied Cabernet with an elegant personality. On the palate notes of cigar box and leather emerge from the wine’s velvety texture. This lengthy effort will offer prime drinking from 2013 to 2021.
— Wine Advocate, Aug 2009
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Vineyard & Production Info
Vineyard name
The La Pirámide, Domingo and Adrianna vineyards
Vineyard size
N/A acres
Soil composition
Sand and loam
Training method
VSP
Elevation:
3,083 - 4,921 feet
Vines/acre:
2220
Yield/acre:
.8 - 1.2 tons
Exposure:
Northwestern
Harvest time:
March-April
First vintage of this wine:
1994
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Winemaking & Aging
Maceration length:
28
Varietal composition:
100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Fermentation container:
Small format fermentation bins
Length of alcoholic fermentation:
16 days
Fermentation temperature:
82 °F
Maceration technique:
Manual punch down
Malolactic fermentation:
Yes
Type of aging container:
Barriques
Size of aging container:
225 L
Type of oak:
French oak
Length of aging before bottling:
18 months
Age of Aging Container:
80% new
Length of bottle aging:
24 months
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Analytical Data
pH level:
3.7
Acidity:
5.85 g/L
Alcohol:
13.7 %