Nicolas Catena Single Vineyard Tasting at Wine Watch

Nicolas Catena Single Vineyard Tasting at Wine Watch

Nicolas Catena is one of the leaders in Argentina and this tasting will feature the top wines that Catena has to offer.  We will be showing all of the single vineyard wines along with the Catena Zapata, the sum of all the parts.

The fee for this tasting is $95 + Tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463.

Tasting Line-Up:

Catena Alta Chardonnay

Price: $31.50    Sale $27.72    Case $322

Catena Alta is an assemblage of historic rows within the Catena family Estate vineyards. The blend of these historic rows, like the marriage of sounds that create a symphony, yields a highly aromatic and elegant wine that speaks for the earth and the vines that have been tended by the Catenas for four generations. The Catena Alta wines can usually be drunk starting at three years after harvest and into the following one to two decades.

At almost 5,000 feet elevation in the Andean foothills, the Adrianna vineyard's calcareous soils and cool climate are the promised land of Chardonnay. The fruit from the Adrianna vineyard has a purity of flavors and a minerality that is particular to this vineyard and can not be found anywhere else in Mendoza. The nearby, gravel-covered Domingo Vineyard makes up 20% of the blend. Elevage: 14 months in French oak barrels.

Catena Alta Malbec

Price: $58.50    Sale $51.48    Case $597

Nicola Catena planted his first Malbec vineyard in Mendoza in 1902. His grandson, Nicolás Catena, is known as the man who revolutionized Argentine wine and introduced high altitude Malbec to the world. The Historic Catena Zapata vineyards are planted with the Catena family’s proprietary selection of malbec plants: the Catena Cuttings. Catena Alta Malbec is sourced from Block 18 of the Angélica vineyard, Block 4 of the La Pirámide vineyard, Block 1 of the Nicasia vineyard and Blocks 3 & 9 of the Adrianna vineyard.

Catena Alta Cabernet Sauvignon

Price: $51.75    Sale $45.54    Case $528

Before the world recognized Catena’s Argentina as “malbec country”, the winery was known for its old-world style Cabernet Sauvignon born in the clay-soils of Agrelo. The family cherishes its historic Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards in Agrelo and Tupungato, particularly for their ageability and classic flavors. Catena Alta Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from Block 3 of the La Pirámide vineyard, Block 2 of the Domingo vineyard and Block 2 of the Nicasia Vineyard. Elevage: 18 months in French oak barrels.

Nicolas Catena Zapata Blend 2009

Price: $130.50    Sale $114.84    Case $1332

The Catena Zapata family's mission is to make profound and unforgettable wines; wines that reflect the special character of each vine within the family's historic vineyards. Constantly pushing the viticultural envelope, Nicolás and Laura Catena have identified Mendoza's best microclimates, selected the highest quality Malbec vines and pioneered viticulture in undiscovered regions - the Adrianna Vineyard at almost 5,000 feet elevation in the Andean foothills.

Their vision has been to uncover those magical places in each of the family's vineyards which offer the purest expression of the land. Farming these special lots manually, hand-tending each of the vines, has led to the identification of individual plants which consistently produce the most exceptional fruit. These Zapata Vines have been physically marked with a red sash, ensuring the most demanding attention to detail in their care. Harvested separately in multiple passes through the vineyard, the Zapata Vines form the foundation of the Catena Zapata wines.

Nicolas Catena Malbec Adrianna 2010

Price: $130.50    Sale $114.84    Case $1332

The symbol of pioneering viticulture, the Adrianna vineyard is located at 5,000' elevation, the highest Malbec vineyard in all Mendoza. This wine defines high altitude Malbec, with exceptional concentration and structure that will last for at least 20 to 30 years.

Nicolas Catena Malbec Argentino 2010

Price: $130.50    Sale $114.84    Case $1332

No matter what the vintage, this wine is really more than 100 years old. It represents a family's journey to produce an Argentine Malbec that can stand with the great wines of the world. Malbec Argentino is a blend of Catena Zapata's historic Malbec vineyards Adrianna and Nicasia.

Nicolas Catena Malbec Nicasia 2010

Price: $130.50    Sale $114.84    Case $1332

Located in the far southerly growing region of Altamira en La Consulta, the Nicasia vineyard is the only planting of the special Catena Selection of Malbec cuttings in this traditional area for Malbec. La Consulta was Nicolás Catena’s father Domingo’s prefered Malbec location.

White Bones Chardonnay 2011

Price: $117.00    Sale $102.96    Case $1194

The 2009 Catena Zapata Adrianna White Bones Chardonnay shows bright citrus and white fruit on the nose. This richly-textured wine has pear, apple and floral flavors accompanied by a salty note. Bright and clean on the finish, this wine has wonderful length and minerality.

White Stones Chardonnay 2011

Price: $90.00    Sale $79.20    Case $918  

"White Stones” make reference to a sector of 27 rows that is completely covered with oval white stones and was the site of an ancient stream bed.

A delicate nose of white flowers and white fruits combined with mineral notes leads to a wine with an elegant mouth feel. Fresh aromas of jasmine and white peach; white fruit and petrol flavors that come together with bright acidity on the wonderful lengthy finish.

Menu

Selection of Cheese: Beemster Gouda, Reggiano Parmesan and Hard Cheddar

Butternut Squash soup with Polenta Crouton

Grilled Ribeye with Bernaise Butter and onion relish roasted fingerling potatos

A bit about the winemaker:

At Home on Mendoza’s High Altitude Vineyards: Winemaker Ernesto Bajda

Mendoza, Argentina is the perfect home for winemaker Ernesto (Nesti) Bajda: he has an incredible passion for high altitude vineyards. In fact, he was a panelist at the First International High Altitude and Winemaking Symposium in Lake County, California, in 2007, where he presented research on the effect of varying altitudes on Malbec grapes and wines.

A graduate of the Universidad Nacional de Cuyo in Mendoza, Argentina, Nesti earned his degree in Agricultural Engineering, with specializations in viticulture and oenology. Along with his expertise in research and vineyard management, he has a unique knowledge of the precision tools to identify variability in vineyards, what he believes the clue to reach outstanding wines.

With thirteen vintages behind him, Nesti is emerging as a cutting-edge winemaker. He joined Bodega Catena Zapata in 2003 to work close to Alejandro Vigil, Catena Zapata’s head winemaker. He has also worked five years as the head winemaker of Don Miguel Gascon wines, one of the most successful Malbec from Argentina in US and Canada.

Born to Slovenian immigrants, Nesti is well known among his colleagues for carrying on his Alpine ancestors’ passion for distilled aguardientes. Nesti’s homemade grappa is a favorite at each year’s harvest celebration.