Catena Appellation Paraje Altamira Malbec

Catena Appellation Paraje Altamira Malbec bottle image

Wine Description

Family vintners for over 100 years, the Catena’s are recognized internationally for their pioneering role in high-altitude viticulture and in leading Argentina’s Malbec revolution. In the 1950s, Don Domingo Catena began sourcing Malbec from the vineyards of Altamira in 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
“Alejandro Vigil uses 5% co-fermented Semillon in this stylish, scented Paraje Altamira Malbec for added complexity. It’s a floral, alluring Malbec with plenty of color and concentration and chalky underlying acidity.”
— Tim Atkin, MW, May 2019
“The rocky Altamira soils often lead to this style of austere, severe malbec’s. It has generous ripe red fruit and herbal notes, but what predominates is its savage tannic structure. The vineyard was planted 22 years ago and now offers wonderfully deep flavors, while the selection from the barrel where the wine aged for 12 months merely lends a spicy side without interfering with the fruit notes. A very good example of the place.”
— Descorchados, Jun 2019
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Vineyard & Production Info
Vineyard name
Altamira
Vineyard size
75 acres
Soil composition
Clay-Loam, Silty-Loam, and Sandy-Loam
Training method
VSP
Elevation:
3,613 feet
Vines/acre:
1800
Yield/acre:
2.8 tons
Exposure:
Northwestern
Year vineyard planted:
1996
Harvest time:
March 18-April 20
First vintage of this wine:
2006
Average Vine Age:
21
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Winemaking & Aging
Prefermentation Technique:
Cold maceration
Maceration length:
10
Varietal composition:
100% Malbec
Fermentation container:
Stainless steel tanks
Length of alcoholic fermentation:
16 days
Fermentation temperature:
80 °F
Maceration technique:
Pumpovers
Malolactic fermentation:
Yes
Type of aging container:
Barrels
Size of aging container:
225
Type of oak:
French
Length of aging before bottling:
12 months
Age of Aging Container:
New
Length of bottle aging:
10 months
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Analytical Data
pH level:
3.7
Alcohol:
13.5 %