MundoVino Portfolio Book

Catena Alta Catena Alta wines are an assemblage of historic rows, identified and selected after years of viticultural research, within the Catena family estate vineyards. The blend of these historic rows yields a highly aromatic and elegant wine that speaks for the earth and the vines that have been tended by the Catena Family for four generations. The Catena Alta wines can usually be consumed three years after harvest and into the following one to two decades. Catena Alta Chardonnay The Catena Alta Chardonnay is produced from two of the Catena family vineyards—the Adrianna Vineyard at almost 5,000 feet and the Domingo Vineyard at 3,700 feet. The Adrianna Vineyard’s calcareous soils and cool climate are ideal for growing Chardonnay. The fruit from Adrianna has a purity of flavors and a minerality that is particular to this vineyard and cannot be found anywhere else in Mendoza. The nearby gravel-covered Domingo Vineyard makes up 20 percent of the blend. Catena Alta Chardonnay shows an intense green yellow color with golden highlights. The nose offers ripe white fruit aromas such as pears and peaches that are interwoven with delicate citrus and floral notes, such as jasmine. The palate shows rich and concentrated ripe pear, apple and apricot flavors with a light note of minerality. The wine finishes long and complex with crisp, mineral acidity. Whole clusters are pressed, and fermented in French oak barrels with natural yeasts at low temperatures. The wine is aged for twelve to sixteen months in French oak and a little over two-thirds of it undergoes malolactic fermentation. 2014: 94 JS | 2013: 92 WA | 2012: 91 WA | 2011: 92 WA | 2010: 93 WA | 2009: 92 WA | 2008: 93 V Catena Alta Malbec 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 Block 18 of the Angélica vineyard, Block 4 of the La Pirámide vineyard, Block 1 of the Nicasia vineyard and Blocks 3 and 9 of the Adrianna vineyard. Catena Alta Malbec is deep violet in color with indigo highlights. The nose has aromas of ripe red and blackberry fruits with notes of violets and lavender, and hints of leather and a touch of spices. The wine is full-bodied and rich, with sweet tannins and a smooth structure, offering multiple layers of blackberries and black currant with hints of licorice, vanilla, and black pepper. This wine’s lengthy finish shows beautiful minerality with fine tannins and lively acidity. Vineyard rows 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 French oak barrels. Rows from each vineyard are treated individually; fermentation and maceration vary by row. Thirty percent of the berries undergo cold maceration and then alcoholic and malolactic fermentation take place in-barrel. The wine is aged for eighteen months in French oak. 2013: 94 JS | 2012: 94+ WA | 2011: 94 W&S | 2010: 94 WA | 2009: 94 WA | 2008: 92 WA | 2007: 93 WS

WINES OF ARGENTINA

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