Catena Alta Malbec, 2021
Regular price £51.00
Catena Alta: A lot-by-lot selection from historic sites; each lot is farmed and vinified separately in order to showcase its unique expression.
Aromas & Flavors
Dark, opaque violet color. Delicate floral aromas of violets and lavender with ripe black fruits. Full bodied mouthfeel with soft, sweet tannins and a long lingering finish.
Vinification
30 % cold maceration.
Fermentation in 225-500 L barrels,
Wild yeasts.
Maceration times vary, by block.
18 months in French oak barrels.
Unfined and unfiltered
Wine description
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 plants: the Catena Cuttings. Catena Alta Malbec is sourced from Lot 18 of the Angélica vineyard, Lot 4 of the La Pirámide vineyard, Lot 1 of the Nicasia vineyard, Lot 6 of the Angélica Sur vineyard and Lot 9 of the Adrianna vineyard.
Vinification
Vineyard lots are harvested at different times to ensure optimal natural acidity and moderate alcohol levels. Whole berries are hand loaded into small format fermentation bins and 225-500 L barrels; lots from each vineyard are treated individually; fermentation and maceration last for 28-30 days; cold maceration. Wild yeasts. Alcoholic and malolactic fermentation in barrel; wine undergoes active battonage to protect it and drastically reduce the amount of SO2 needed. Aged for 18 months in French oak.
Historic Rows
Catena Alta is an assemblage of historic rows within the Catena family Estate vineyards. The blend of these historic rows, like the marriage of sounds that create a symphony, yields a highly aromatic and elegant wine that speaks for the earth and the vines that have been tended by the Catenas for four generations. The Catena Alta wines can usually be drunk starting at three years after harvest and into the following one to two decades.
Technical Information
- Varietal: 100% Malbec
- Alcohol: 13.8 %
- Total Acidity: 6,2 grams/liter
- pH: 3.55
- Unfined and unfiltered
Vineyards
