CATENA ZAPATA Malbec 'River' Adrianna Vineyard - Gualtallary, Uco Valley, Mendoza 2021 Bottle (los)

Description

The Catena Adrianna Vineyard River Malbec 2021 is an exceptional wine from Mendoza’s Gualtallary sub-district, located at nearly 5,000 feet in elevation. This vintage has earned high praise, including 100 points from The Wine Advocate for its elegant personality and powerful structure. James Suckling awarded it 98 points, highlighting its complex profile of red fruit, black olives, and spice, with a pure, transparent palate. Vinous also rated it 98 points, noting vibrant aromas of sage, lavender, and rosehip, along with a silky texture. Wine Enthusiast gave it 96 points for its polished tannins and balanced character. This Malbec showcases intense flavours and exceptional complexity, making it ideal for enjoyment now or for aging gracefully into the future.

*****

For over four generations, the Catena family has grown vines in the foothills of the Andes Mountains in Mendoza, Argentina. In his pursuit to make wines that stand with the best in the world, Nicolás Catena identified the best lots and rows, in the Catena family’s estate vineyards.

The Adrianna vineyard is located at almost 5,000’ elevation in the Gualtallary sub-district of the Tupungato region.

This cuvée takes its name from a small parcel of the Adrianna Vineyard that is completely covered with oval white stones and was the site of an ancient riverbed. The abundant stones provide optimal drainage and extreme temperatures. They absorb heat and moderate the nights, but also function like ice cubes after a very cold night. Stony soil Malbecs tend to be extremely aromatic, rich and luxurious, just like the River Malbec from Adrianna. This wine can be enjoyed young or aged for decades.

At this extreme high altitude, the nights are cool, only a few degrees above freezing even in the summer. The night-day temperature difference is between 15 and 20 degrees. And the sunlight is more intense because of the altitude.

THE WINE ADVOCATE 100 points
“There is an usual stony austerity in the 2021 Adrianna Vineyard River, cropped from a cold year when the full clusters fermented in concrete with a slightly shorter maceration and an élevage in a 2,000-liter oak foudre and the rest in stainless steel. It has a moderate 13.4% alcohol with very high acidity (8.2!) and a low pH (3.37), incredible parameters of freshness. The wine was closed and took time to take off in the glass, revealing a very elegant and subtle personality, with the silky texture of the very fine tannins, pristine aromas and flavors and a sense of harmony that was moving. It's powerful but extremely elegant in that rare combination of clout and energy, a wine of light, aerial, with some ethereal qualities, delicate and refined. This combines the cool place and high altitude, the cool year and the stony soils, to deliver a stunning Malbec that goes well beyond the variety. Bravo!”

JAMES SUCKLING 98 Points
A full package of red fruit with a hint of black olives, spice, wet stones and hibiscus. Medium- to full-bodied on the palate, very pure, transparent and juicy. Really elegant and subtle, with a long finish. Very refined. Complex but discreet and pinot-esque for a malbec. 100% whole bunch. Drink or hold.

VINOUS 98 points
Drinking Window 2025 - 2040
From: The Uco Valley: Where Diverse Terroirs Work Their Magic (Sep 2023)
The 2021 Malbec Adrianna Vineyard River originates from a small stony plot nestled in an ancient riverbed in Gualtallary, Uco Valley, situated at an elevation of 1,400 meters. It was carefully aged for up to 16 months in foudres and concrete vats. It displays a purple hue with a bright sheen. The nose offers enticing notes of sage and arugula, complemented by chamomile, lavender and huacatay, layered over a base of rosehip and crushed plums. This Malbec exhibits a dry and lean profile reminiscent of Pinot Noir, showcasing a nervous and taut sensation with a silky texture. The refreshing notes and juicy flow linger, creating a harmonious experience. This red wine combines precise harvesting timing with a beautiful 2021 vintage to accentuate its primary profile. - By Joaquín Hidalgo on June 2023

WINE ENTHUSIAST 96 piints
This is a beautifully balanced Malbec, with an elegant character and polished tannins. Floral aromas are followed by soft notes of leather and berries. The palate is very expressive, offering layers of blackberries, raspberries, cassis, licorice and jarilla. It has a silky texture and features optimal acidity, suggesting it will age gracefully. Drink now through 2035 and beyond. — Jesica Vargas

JANCIS ROBINSON 18.5 points
The wine offers one of the most fragrant and floral Malbecs of the Adrianna range, which is drinking beautifully already with alluring notes of violets and wild flowers. There are fine, powdery tannins and vibrant acidity. Very elegant indeed. (AB)