Catena Alta Cabernet Sauvignon

Catena Alta Cabernet Sauvignon

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, idedntifying 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
“The 2020 Catena Alta Cabernet Sauvignon contains 8% Cabernet Franc that seems to have given it an extra touch of freshness in this warm year. It's varietal, peppery and herbal but with ripeness and 13.7% alcohol. It's medium-bodied with abundant herbal flavors and very fine tannins.”
— Wine Advocate, Nov 2022
“The 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Catena Alta contains an 8% dash of Cabernet Franc from Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley. The wine was aged for up to 18 months in new and used barrels. It’s garnet red in the glass. The complex nose showcases dried flowers, blackcurrant, hints of jam and gentle red pepper notes against a cedar backdrop. Lean in feel with expansive, grippy tannins, the flow is well-channeled with good volume. A lovely, continental Cabernet.”
— Vinous, Nov 2022
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Vineyard & Production Info
Vineyard name
Lot 3, La Piramide Vineyard, Agrelo, Luján de Cuyo.
Soil composition
Sandy-Loam
Training method
VSP
Elevation:
3,117-3,675 feet
Yield/acre:
1.2 tons
Exposure:
Northwestern
Harvest time:
Mid-April
First vintage of this wine:
1994
Bottles produced of this wine:
60,000
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Winemaking & Aging
Maceration length:
30 days
Varietal composition:
92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Cabernet Franc
Fermentation container:
Barriques and Barrels
Length of alcoholic fermentation:
16-35 days
Maceration technique:
Punchdown
Malolactic fermentation:
Yes
Type of aging container:
Barriques
Size of aging container:
225 L
Type of oak:
French
Length of aging before bottling:
18 months
Age of Aging Container:
New-Two years
Length of bottle aging:
24 months
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Analytical Data
pH level:
3.55
Acidity:
5.82 g/L
Alcohol:
13.7 %