Catena Zapata - Adrianna Vineyard Mundus Bacillus Terrae Malbec 2019 (750ml)

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Price: $336.99

Producer	Catena Zapata
Country	Argentina
Region	Tupungato
Varietal	Malbec
Vintage	2019
Sku	112345
Size	750ml
ABV	14.00%

Catena Zapata Description

In 1902, Nicola Catena, an Italian immigrant, planted his first vineyard in Mendoza, Argentina. The winery has remained under family control — now in its fourth generation — and is one of the few family-owned wine companies in Argentina that remains in Argentine hands. Owned today by Nicolás Catena and his daughter Laura, Catena Zapata is known as the pioneer of fine wine from Argentina, and Nicolás is recognized as the vintner who revolutionized wine quality in Argentina. A trained economist, Nicolás began this revolution in the early 1980s and continues to challenge himself and his team to make wines that can be counted among the best in the world. His measured approach to viticulture has taken its place in wine history as the pioneer of Malbec and high-altitude viticulture.

Catena wines, first launched in 1992, set a new standard for quality in South America. The wines immediately proved the quality potential of Argentina and garnered the first outstanding reviews for Argentine wines from worldwide media. After more than 20 years, the wines of Catena continue to lead the way in Argentine viticulture and winemaking. The family and the winery’s employees take great pride in carrying on the tradition that began over a century ago.

Location of Vineyard

The Catena family’s estate vineyards are located in the premier growing regions of Villa Bastías, Tupungato; Agrelo, Lujan de Cuyo; Lunlunta, Maipu; Gualtallary, Tupungato and La Consulta, San Carlos. Nicolás believes the terroir of Mendoza's high altitude wine country (3,000 - 5,000 feet above sea level) is unique to the world, and the reality of this belief is expressed in every bottle of Catena wine crafted.

Click here to experience the Catena Principal Appellations of Mendoza interactive map

Winemaking Philosophy

Catena Classic - The Catena wines are made from 100% estate-grown fruit from the Catena family’s high-altitude vineyards. These wines are a blend of single varietals from various locations within these vineyard sites. Each vineyard is farmed in preparation for its role in the final blend, and each is harvested and vinified separately in order to preserve the unique expression, aromas and flavors of the fruit. This ultimately brings to the blend the strengths of each vineyard, adding a heightened complexity to the final wine.

Catena Alta - In the early 1990s, the Catena Alta wines set new standards for Argentine wine internationally, paving the way for a new category of high-end wines from Argentina. With these wines, Catena Zapata continued their pioneering efforts being the first to release Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay of this quality from Mendoza’s high-altitude wine country.

It is a truth among viticulturalists that every vineyard has a sweet spot: a series of rows, known as a lot, that produce better quality fruit. Differences in soil structure, clonal selection, row orientation, slope or plantation density result in a mix of wine character and concentration that gives the barrels from these rows a one-of-a-kind personality. The Catenas have spent the last 25 years extensively mapping their estate vineyards in order to discover these lots. The discovery and meticulous nurturing of these special rows gave birth to the Catena Alta wines. Each lot is farmed and vinified separately in order to showcase its unique expression. When brought together, each adds an individual element to the overall complexity of the final wine. Catena Alta is made from a limited production of single varietal wines from historic rows, or lots, in the Catena family’s high-altitude estate vineyards.

Catena Zapata - Even with the national acclaim of the Catena Alta wines, Nicolás still yearned to make wines that could stand with the world’s greats. To do this, he knew he needed to grow fruit of unprecedented quality, with a level of concentration, complexity and balance never before seen in Argentina. Once each specific lot was identified and its potential revealed through row-by-row micro-vinification, Nicolás developed a plant-by-plant selection through which he could further enhance the characteristics of each lot. Today the Zapata vines are specifically marked and meticulously cared for as the mother plants to the Zapata Four: Nicolás Catena Zapata, Malbec Argentino, Adrianna Malbec and Nicasia Malbec.

Alejandro Vigil is a graduate in agricultural engineering from the Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, where he went on to receive master’s degrees in both winemaking and irrigation management. He began his career in the National Agricultural Technology Institute, where he took over the Soil Analysis Department at the age of 28. Alejandro came to Catena Zapata in 2002 as head of Research & Development. In 2003 he joined the enology department, becoming the manager of the top wines. His strong scientific background led to important developments in both vineyard management and winemaking. Alejandro was named chief winemaker in July 2007. A naturally restless person, Alejandro strives to channel his creative energy into pushing the limits of conventional viticultural and winemaking wisdom. Always ready to try something new, full of endless experiments, Alejandro’s goal is to constantly increase his understanding of the unique terroir in Mendoza’s high-altitude desert oasis.

Mundus Bacillus means 'elegant bacteria' in Latin, and is named in honor of the bacteria that live in the soil in Adrianna Vineyard. Similar to research that has shown that bacteria living inside and outside the human body may help combat cancer and autoimmune disease, it is thought that bacteria living within the plants' roots may be the key to why vines are able to survive in such stressful, extreme conditions as those found in the arid and cold Adrianna Vineyard.

About the Vineyard

Over the years, Nicolás Catena Zapata discovered the influence altitude has on fruit quality. As one climbs the altitudes of the Andes the average temperature decreases and the amplitude between day and night temperatures increases. Named after Nicolás Catena Zapata’s youngest daughter, the Adrianna Vineyard is located at almost 5,000 feet elevation in Mendoza. The soils in this 1.4 hectare parcel are filled with scattered limestone and marine deposits that covered the region millions of years ago.

Tasting Notes

Descriptors: tight, high acidity, lots of tannins; ageability.

Food Pairing

Grilled meat.

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