2024 Catena - Malbec Mendoza HALF BOTTLE (375ml)

The Catena family has been making wine in Mendoza since 1902, and is widely credited with discovering the region's high-altitude terroir, planting vines as high as five thousand feet in the Andes foothills. Fourth-generation vintner Laura Catena now leads the estate alongside chief winemaker Alejandro Vigil, continuing decades of research into how elevation, cooler nights, and intense UV exposure shape the character of Mendoza Malbec. The family farms its estate vineyards under Certified Sustainable practices.

This bottling draws on 100 percent estate-grown fruit from historic Catena vineyards planted between 920 and 1,450 meters above sea level, on a mix of alluvial, limestone, and stony ground. Grapes are hand-picked at peak ripeness, then given a five-day cold soak at just under nine degrees Celsius to draw out color and aroma before fermentation with indigenous yeasts, which runs ten to sixteen days. An extended post-fermentation maceration follows, and the finished wine spends twelve months aging in a mix of barrels chosen according to each vineyard and vintage.

The wine opens with red fruit, cherry, and hibiscus, layered over a mineral hint reminiscent of freshly turned earth. The palate is precise and refreshing, medium-bodied with smooth tannins and a long, fruit-filled finish. Pour it with beef empanadas, grilled chorizo, or aged Manchego.