TUNE-IN Operatives, broadcasting live from Wine Heaven!

Laura Catena is joining us THIS AFTERNOON AT 4 PM PST on Zoom to TASTE and TALK about this wine and MORE, can’t wait to join you there!

When Wine Advocate cries “why can’t all large producers be like Catena?” out loud, this is the wine they mean.

Allow us to clarify, as for those who have not heard of “Her Highness” before, some research may confuse you initially to think that there are numerous celebrities with that name. There are not. She is (take a deep breath); a 4th generation globetrotting vintner, Founder and Managing Director of the Catena Institute of Wine, an established author, a flying Emergency Medicine physician in San Francisco, a graduate of Harvard AND Stanford, oh, and last but not least, a mother of three beautiful children. YES, all that in one…

Wait, we almost forgot about the wine! The Catena portfolio is massive, chockfull of stunners and never easy to pick from as you just can’t go wrong with that name on a bottle, from the sub-$15 entry-level to the flagships approaching $200. Yet right in the middle of this dizzying lineup sits the greatest value of all that combines the everyday drinkability and affordability of Argentine Malbecs with the structure and finesse of the cult collectibles that are near impossible to source. Enter Alta. When Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate cries “why can’t all large producers be like Catena?” out loud, this is the wine they mean. For a song, you walk away today with a world-class Malbec like no other.

Opaque as midnight to the core showing the thinnest rim glowing with a bright purple hue. Exotic wild berries red and black comingle over floral undertones, with a fresh herbal lift and a mélange of spices. Lifted by juicy acidity, elegant tannins embrace a fruity-savory burst, as complexity kicks in with the palate buildup. Silky and refreshing on the gorgeous finale, this is synced like a graceful ballerina en pointe, revolving effortlessly. Traditionalist Argentineans love this with steak, not just any ole cut, an Entraña with chimichurri, please!

Any random copy of The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The San Francisco Chronicle, La Nación, Oprah Magazine, Saveur, Town and Country, Food & Wine, Wine & Spirits, Decanter, The Wine Advocate, Wine Spectator, Vinous, or Wine Enthusiast, odds are there will at least be something on Catena, as the media and the wine world obsess over the wines and are overflowing with respect for her. Buy as much as you can, as its intrinsic value is at the very least twice what you will be paying, AND it comes with the privilege to be with us at Mrs. Catena’s exclusive Zoom Tasting on Friday the 15th at 4 PM. Expect surprises, as we will be dressing up for the occasion with a bottle or two of the rarest additions… we just cannot wait, can you?

Here’s what the wine press has to say:

94 Points – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate - “I tasted a very large collection of wines from Catena Zapata. All of these wines are highly recommendable, but the wines from the Adrianna Vineyard range are truly gobsmacking good and world-class. I had the chance to taste slowly through three vintages of the three reds and two of the whites, and it made a fascinating comparison. The profile is austere and mineral, and sometimes they take time to open up. They are, of course, very young wines destined for a long life in bottle. The quality is extremely high, and it’s a matter of preference as to which plot or vintage style you like best. 2014 is austere and a bit herbal, 2015 showed a little riper and 2016 seems to be the most complete of the three, with super sharp, linear whites and austere reds for the long haul. Just as I saw last time, the Appellation range is clearly the sweet spot, especially in 2016, when the wines clearly overdeliver. And it is impressive how the character of each wine is maintained and identifiable in every vintage. I also had the chance to taste the 2016 Catena Alta Malbec, when they used a higher percentage of grapes from Nicasia. In this vintage, it’s truly 100% Malbec that fermented in tank with full clusters and finished fermenting after pressing, without skins. It’s serious and elegant, with the year’s signature freshness. 2016 has really marked the wines with great freshness. This is serious and with zero sweetness, complete and direct. Drink 2018-2024.”

92 Points – Jeb Dunnuck - “The Catena wines shine for their purity and freshness, and have classical profiles. These are not massive wines, but they have good concentration, obvious structure, and most will benefit from short term cellaring. As I hope the reviews show, Catena Zapata is producing classic, world-class, age-worthy wines. Made from 100% Malbec from a number of vineyards (Angélica, La Pirámide, Nicasia and Adrianna) fermented and aged in 70% new barrels, the 2016 Malbec Historic Rows is an incredibly elegant, seamless wine that has an almost Burgundian style in its mulberry, blueberries, incense, forest floor, and spring flower-laced aromas and flavors. Beautiful on the palate as well, with medium to full body, supple tannins, and terrific balance, this is one of those wines that grows on you with time in the glass and shines on all accounts. Drink it any time over the coming decade or more. Drink 2018-2028.”