February 2023
CATENA
Alta Malbec 2019
- 91 points -
Catena Alta is an assemblage of historical rows of the Catena Zapata vineyards planted to the Catena family's proprietary selection of malbec plants from 900-1400m. The 5 blocks yield highly aromatic and elegant wine that speaks to four generations of winegrowers. The wine spends 18 months in 70 percent new oak and another 24 months in bottle before release. It's malbec at a comfortable 13.8%, finished unfined and unfiltered. 2019 was a cool year, and the yields were lower than average, leading to excellent acidity and concentrated flavours. Look for violet with hints of blueberry and the classic savoury jarilla characters. On the palate you'll find red and blue fruit with substantial mid-palate weight and rich tannins. This wine will age over the next five years.
About Gismondi on Wine
Anthony Gismondi is one of North America's most influential wine critics. Both a writer and broadcaster he is currently in his 25th year as wine columnist at the Vancouver Sun where his twice weekly wine columns and videos are seen by one million readers a week. His comprehensive and busy wine review websitewww.gismondionwine.com features over 20,000 tasting notes and attracts over a half million visitors a month from some 70 countries. He is also the co-host of the longest running, weekly, wine and food show in Canadian radio: The Best of Food and Wine. The show airs in prime time every Thursday evening from 6-7pm Pacific on CISL 650am.