Catena Alta Malbec Ερυθρός Ξηρός Malbec 2018 | Bodega Catena Zapata | Mendoza

Χρώμα: Ερυθρός

Ποικιλιακή Σύνθεση: 100% Malbec

Γεωγραφική Ένδειξη: Mendoza

Περιοχή: Mendoza

Τύπος: Ξηρός

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.

HARVEST REPORT - 2018

Cool Nights and high day-night Thermal Amplitude:The summer of 2017 started out warm but then cooled off during the 2018 harvest months of February, March and April. This, in addition to the lower rainfall, gave rise to optimal balance in the fruit, with beautiful natural acidity, regional aromatic expression and smooth tannins.

Early by Two Weeks: A warm summer followed by the cooling effect of the Pacific over the Andes during the months of February, March and April gave rise to a slightly earlier (by two weeks) harvest in 2018.

A Dry Year: There was a decrease of about 100 mm (4 inches), about 30% less rain in every region.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Varietal: 100% Malbec

Alcohol: 13.8 %

Total Acidity: 6,2 grams/liter

pH: 3.55

Unfined and unfiltered

VINEYARDS

Lot 18, Angelica Vineyard, Maipú, Luján de Cuyo (920m/3018ft). Aluvial origin. Loamy clay in the topsoil with rounded rocks on the bottom.

Lot 4, La Piramide Vineyard, Agrelo, Luján de Cuyo (950m/3116ft). Aluvial origin. Clay topsoil with rounded rocks on the bottom.

Lot 1, Nicasia Vineyard, Altamira, San Carlos, Valle de Uco (1095m/3592ft). Aluvial origin. Loamy soil, with rounded rocks on the bottom.

Lot 9, Adrianna vineyard Tupungato, Valle de Uco (1450m/4757ft). Aluvial origin. Gravel and limestone. Rounded rocks in the bottom.

Lot 6, Angélica Sur Vineyard, San Carlos, Valle de Uco. (1100m/3608ft). Sandy loam with presence of graveland limestone.