Wine Information
The 2009 Catena Malbec presents a dark, violet color with deep black tones. This microclimate blend of four unique vineyard sites offers intense aromas with a soft generous texture and concentrated flavors. Angelica vineyard lends ripe plum and chocolate flavors with a very soft, supple mouthfeel. La Consulta vineyard brings a core of black currant and cassis, with excellent structure and length. La Piramide vineyard offers blackberry fruit with a slight earthy tone and notes of spicy black pepper. Finally, the Adrianna vineyard lends exceptional concentration with explosive floral aromatics. Together they give birth to a complex blend of aromas and flavors - a wine with excellent concentration, balance and freshness.
Tasting Notes
VINIFICATION:
This wine goes through an extensive cold maceration for 8-10 days at 45°F to extract aromas. The juice is then fermented for 14 days with a post-fermentation maceration of 16 days to extract flavors and structure; malolactic fermentation happens in barrel; the wine is aged for 14 months in 70% French oak (35% new) and 30% American oak.
VINTAGE 2009:
The sanitary conditions, aromas, tannin development, especially in the reds, were absolutely perfect. The weather stayed dry from the end of December through May, with moderate temperatures, almost no rains, sunny and breezy at night. The key to this vintage was judicious irrigation management. Drip irrigated vineyards had a definite advantage. We had the opportunity to stress each and every vine just the right amount.l.
VINEYARDS:
Angelica Vineyard 3018 ft
La Piramide Vineyard 3117 ft
Nicasia Vineyard 3593 ft
Adrianna Vineyard 4757 ft
The Catena family has conducted extensive research into the soils and microclimates of Mendoza's high altitude wine country in the foothills of the Andes mountains. At different altitudes, the family’s Malbec vineyards express a unique profile of aromas and flavors: the ripe plum fruit flavors and silky texture of the Angelica vineyard (3018 ft elevation); the dark fruit character and pepper notes of the La Pirámide vineyard (3117 ft elevation); the black cherry aromas and excellent structure of the La Consulta vineyard (3593 ft elevation); the explosive floral aromatics full, concentrated mouthfeel of the Adrianna vineyard (4757 ft). The blend of these components creates a wine of unique character that has balance, concentration and a strong varietal identity.
