Winemaker Notes
Spice and black cherry cola aromas with notes of cocoa. The berry flavors pop on the palate from its depth and lively acidity, finishing with hints of espresso.
Pairs well with foods such as venison or wild game, steak, pork, quail, all types of lamb, and medium-strong cheeses.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Baked blueberries, dark cherries, toasted hazelnuts, vanilla, tea leaves and mocha on the nose. It’s full-bodied with firm, velvety tannins. Creamy and polished. Compact and plush, yet fresh and vibrant at the finish.
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Wine Spectator
This has a slight balsam element joining a core of strawberry and black cherry, which has a svelte entry and adds wood spice and rich chocolaty notes to the firming finish. Drink now through 2032.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2020 Old Vine Malbec comes from old ungrafted vineyards irrigated by traditional flood irrigation in the Uco Valley in Mendoza. It combines ripe berry fruit with sweet spices in an approachable and commercial way. It's floral and juicy with a soft palate denoting the ripeness of a warm and dry year and fine and round tannins.
Laura Catena is a fourth generation winemaker who grew up in a traditional Argentine-Italian winemaking family in Mendoza. Laura splits her time between Mendoza and San Francisco, California, where she is an emergency physician, university professor and occasional tango dancer. Laura had the vision of creating a new breed of Argentine wines: small quantities, artisan quality, and true to their individual terroirs. A pioneer of small-grower relations in Mendoza, Laura's incredible, limited production wines come from some of Argentina's best fruit from low-yield, high-elevation, family-owned vineyards. The wines are named after her children - Luca, Dante and Nicola - and symbolize her love for her family. The background of the label is the McDermott coat of arms of her American husband, Daniel McDermott.
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.
With a winning combination of cool weather, high elevation and well-draining alluvial soils, it is no surprise that Mendoza’s Uco Valley is one of the most exciting up-and-coming wine regions in Argentina. Healthy, easy-to-manage vines produce low yields of high-quality fruit, which in turn create flavorful, full-bodied wines with generous acidity.
This is the source of some of the best Malbec in Mendoza, which can range from value-priced to ultra-premium. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay also perform well here.