Catena Malbec 2015

Wine Advocate 91 points - The impressive 2015 Catena Malbec is subtle, balanced and elegant. It mixes fruit from many different zones, with the grapes from the higher part of Valle de Uco fermented with full clusters, the medium part (Vista Flores, lower La Consulta) destemmed and put together with the full clusters from the higher altitude vineyards and the lower parts totally destemmed and in stainless steel. This is a complex blend that showcases the typicity of Malbec in the province of Mendoza with perfumed notes of violets and black cherries, and a touch of spices. The palate has great balance, elegance and subtleness with very fine tannins. Great value for money. The production figures are truly impressive as this is in the ballpark of one million bottles per year..Luis Gutirrez, December/2016

James Suckling 92 points - Aromas of blackberry and walnut with hints of flowers. Medium body, focused and bright with dried fruit and just a hint of mushroom in the aftertaste. Drink now..June/2017

Vinous 89 points - Healthy red-ruby. Inky aromas of blackberry, licorice and tar, with some leathery funkiness. Smooth and subtly sweet but with brisk acidity to frame its flavors of tart red berries. Finishes a bit unyielding, with firm tannins and good length. This and the basic Cabernet are vinified and aged mostly in tank..July/2017

Jancis Robinson 17 points - Four different vineyards at different elevations (920-1,450 m) and different soils. Five days’ cold maceration. Fermented with ambient yeasts over 16 days and then 22 days’ post-ferment maceration. 10-14 months in barrel of various ages, some new. TA 5.2 g/l, pH 3.75. Deep cherry red. Gently dark-fruited and fragrant. Beautifully subtle and elegant on the palate. There’s plenty of fruit though it is not fruit forward thanks to excellent harmony of the parts - fruit and tannins and freshness. It becomes a little more expressive in the glass and shows an attractive dusty/stony quality. A hint of oak spice and oak sweetness on the finish and the silkiest of tannins already - but no sense it is not going to age well. So fresh and supple. Tastes fresher than the numbers suggest. (JH).April/2017

Catena has added a new line of appellation wines and the red Adrianna Vineyard sees three different bottlings, separated by soil and exposure to sun. Other than that, they combine volume in quality like nobody else in Argentina. The name Catena on the label is a guarantee of quality. - Luis Gutierrez, 228, The Wine Advocate, 30th Dec 2016

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 (2,850’ elevation); the dark fruit character and pepper notes of the La Pirámide vineyard (3,100’ elevation); the black cherry aromas and excellent structure of the Altamira vineyard (3,870’ elevation); the explosive floral aromatics full, concentrated mouthfeel of the Adrianna vineyard (5,000’). The blend of these components creates a wine of unique character that has balance, concentration and a strong varietal identity.