Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This is a dense and refined red with a minerality underneath. Full body, firm and silky with pretty blue fruit and light salt undertones. Shows tension and structure.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
I compared the 2016 with the 2017 Catena Malbec, one of their most popular bottlings. Even though the vintage was not as cool as 2016, the wine keeps great freshness and elegance and is very harmonious, with integrated oak and focused flavors. 1.2 million bottles produced and bottled in three different lots.
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Wine & Spirits
Marked by herbal notes and violet aromas, this has the stamp of Uco Valley in its fresh flavors of black cherries. Its acidity is tense, balanced by the ripe flavors in an enchanting finish, lasting on the scent of flowers.
Celebrated for its bold flavors and supple texture, Malbec has enjoyed runaway success in Argentina since the late 20th century. The grape originated in Bordeaux, France, where it historically contributed color and tannin to blends. A French agronomist, who saw great potential for the variety in Mendoza’s hot, high-altitude landscape, brought Malbec to Argentina in 1868. Somm Secret—If you’re trying to please a crowd, Malbec is generally a safe bet with its combination of dense fruit and soft tannins.
By far the largest and best-known winemaking province in Argentina, Mendoza is responsible for over 70% of the country’s enological output. Set in the eastern foothills of the Andes Mountains, the climate is dry and continental, presenting relatively few challenges for viticulturists during the growing season. Mendoza, divided into several distinctive sub-regions, including Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley, is the source of some of the country’s finest wines.
For many wine lovers, Mendoza is practically synonymous with Malbec. Originally a Bordelaise variety brought to Argentina by the French in the mid-1800s, here it found success and renown that it never knew in its homeland where a finicky climate gives mixed results. Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot and Pinot Noir are all widely planted here as well (and sometimes even blended with each other or Malbec). Mendoza's main white varieties include Chardonnay, Torrontés, Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon.