Catena Alta Malbec

Catena Alta Malbec 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.

Nicola Catena planted his first Malbec vineyard in Mendoza in 1902. His grandson, Nicolás Catena, is known as the man who revolutionized Argentine wine and introduced high altitude Malbec to the world. The historic Catena Zapata vineyards are planted with the Catena family’s proprietary selection of Malbec vines: the Catena Cuttings. Catena Alta Malbec is sourced from Block 18 of the Angélica Vineyard in Lunlunta, Block 4 of the La Pirámide Vineyard in Agrelo, Block 1 of the Nicasia Vineyard in the Altamira district of San Carlos and Blocks 3 & 9 of the Adrianna Vineyard in Gualtallary. 

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 2008 Catena Alta Malbec spent 18 months in 70% new French oak and 24 months in bottle prior to release. The nose offers up more obvious barrel notes intermingled with exotic spices, lavender, cinnamon, incense, and black cherry. It opens in the glass to reveal outstanding depth and volume, impeccable balance, layers of spicy fruit, and exceptional length. It is likely to evolve for 2-3 years and offers a drinking window extending from 2013 to 2023.
— Jay Miller, Dec 2011
Good ruby-red. Laid-back aromas of blackberry, coffee and licorice, with a violet note emerging with air. Superconcentrated and sweet, but with firm balancing acidity and a mineral pungency giving the wine excellent thrust. Very deep malbec with broad, smooth tannins and serious length.
— International Wine Cellar, Mar 2012
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Vineyard & Production Info
Vineyard name
The Angélica, La Pirámide, Nicasia and Adrianna vineyards
Vineyard size
N/A acres
Soil composition
Depending on site - sand, loam, clay, calcareous deposits, limestone, surface stones
Training method
VSP
Elevation:
2,850-4,850 feet
Vines/acre:
2200
Yield/acre:
1.2 ton tons
Exposure:
Northwestern
Year vineyard planted:
Various
Harvest time:
March - April
First vintage of this wine:
1996
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Winemaking & Aging
Varietal composition:
100% Malbec
Fermentation container:
Small format fermentation, French oak barrels, stainless steel tanks
Length of alcoholic fermentation:
10 - 18 days
Fermentation temperature:
82 °F
Maceration technique:
Manual Punching 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:
70% New
Length of bottle aging:
24 months
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Analytical Data
pH level:
3.7
Acidity:
5.5 g/L
Alcohol:
14.5 %