CATENA ZAPATA Malbec Adrianna Vineyard 'Mundus Bacillus Terrae' Vino de Parcela - Gualtallary 2022 Bottle

Description

A sensational mountain Malbec that demands attention.

Crowned with a perfect 100 from Descorchados, 99s from Parker and Suckling and 97s from Vinous and Decanter, this is a wine of rare pedigree and uncompromising finesse.

Aromas of crushed dark berries, violet, wet stone and iodine open into a palate of brooding blue-black fruit, taut mineral drive and finely grained, razor-sharp tannins. Herbal and floral accents add lift and complexity while persistent acidity keeps the whole architecture impeccably balanced.

Sleek, multi-dimensional and profoundly expressive, it offers immediate allure whilst clearly rewarding patience, built to evolve gracefully over decades. Exceptionally rare and utterly collectible!

DESCORCHADOS 100 Points
"Here there are flowers, herbal notes, tart red fruits, and fine-but-sharp tannins that stick to the palate and ask for roasted meat. The vibrant acidity of a mountain red and a floral finish invite you to continue drinking. There are no excesses, everything is fine, linear, and sharp rather than round. The name Mundus Bacillus, according to the winemaker, comes from the bacterial world that exists in that small 1.4-hectare piece of the Adrianna Vineyard in Gualtallary, about 1,400 meters above sea level. A soil where calcium carbonate predominates in vines that were planted in the mid-1990s, in this place in the north of the Uco Valley, at the foot of the Andes".

THE WINE ADVOCATE 99 Points
"Among the exceptional trio of Malbec bottlings from Adrianna Vineyard, I found the 2022 Adrianna Vineyard Malbec Mundus Bacillus Terrae to be the most complete and captivating. Starting with a dramatic, exotic, multidimensional and sophisticated nose, it presents an array of paradoxes that characterize the world's most intriguing wines: depth coupled with lift and elegance matched with assertion, all underpinned by a quiet, understated intensity that flows from the nose to the finish. A sleek, rich and polished palate transitions into a grippy, ultra-refined finish featuring well-measured tannins and remarkable length. I eagerly anticipate how this wine will evolve, and I have no doubt its trajectory will span at least two decades."

JAMES SUCKLING 99 Points
"Wet stone, iron, iodine and wet earth with a touch of white pepper and cocoa powder to the deep blue and black fruit. Brooding now, but super fresh. Full-bodied and broad on the palate with real tension, full of fresh, fine-grained tannins. Extremely long and fresh. Drink from 2028."

VINOUS 97 Points
"The 2022 Malbec Adrianna Vineyard Mundus Bacillus Terrae is a terroir-driven wine aptly named for the soil-dwelling bacteria that nourish the grape roots at this site. Sourced from a site planted in 1992 at 1,390 meters above sea level in Tupungato, Uco Valley, the 2022 was aged for 15-18 months in French oak barrels. This purple-hued Malbec is delicate and juicy, featuring notes of violet, lavender, cherry and plum, alongside hints of mountain herbs. It's juicy with a taut structure, leaving a trace of red fruit and darker elements. It finishes with a refined juiciness, showcasing a prominent chalky mouthfeel. This embodies the essence of modern high-altitude winemaking.” - Joaquín Hidalgo, November 2024

DECANTER 97 Points
Tasted by: Georgina Hindle (at Joanne, Bordeaux, 03 Feb 2026)
Drinking Window: 2026 - 2040
Fragrant and deep blackcurrants on the nose. Supple and generous on the palate, this is full of ripe but clean and crystalline fruit - blackcurrant, plum and sweet red cherries. There's an appealing chalky edge to the expression which adds nuance and texture. Still a little reserved but there's lots of finesse and elegance on show. Firm and a touch lean, straightforward and direct but with purity. Juicy and fresh, but not as immediately accessible as the main estate bottling at this point.