Catena Alta Malbec

Nicola Catena planted his first Malbec vineyard in Mendoza in 1902. His grandson, Nicolás Catena, is recognized as the man who revolutionised the wine industry in Argentina and introduced the “Malbec de Altura” to the world. Catena Zapata’s historic vineyards are planted with the family’s own selection of Malbec vines, the so-called “Catena Cuttings”. This wine comes from the historic rows belonging to the family’s vineyards. Their cuttings give rise to a wine of great elegance and aromatic intensity, expressive of the land and vines cultivated with great care for four generations. Catena Alta wines are usually consumed from three years after the harvest and up to two decades later. Vitification:: Each lot is harvested separately, at different times, to ensure moderate alcohol levels and optimal natural acidity. Whole berries are manually poured into 225 to 500 liter barrels for fermentation; lots are vinified individually; 28-30 day fermentation and maceration. Cold maceration. Indigenous yeasts. Alcoholic and malolactic fermentation in barrels; intense battonage regime to protect the wine and drastically reduce the necessary amount of S02. Ageing: 18 months in French oak. Origin: Mendoza, Argentina Varieties: Malbec