2023 Catena - Malbec Mendoza Paraje Altamira (750ml)

Catena Malbec Paraje Altamira is part of the Catena Appellation series, a collection inspired by Bordeaux's classic villages wines and dedicated to individual terroirs across the Uco Valley. The Catena family's connection to this particular site dates back to the 1950s, when Don Domingo Catena began sourcing Malbec from vineyards in Altamira, drawn to the area's intense sunlight and cool nights. Now led by fourth-generation vintner Laura Catena, the family continues to treat this appellation as one of the standard bearers for expressing Mendoza's high-altitude character.

The grapes come from vines planted in 1996 in La Consulta's Altamira district, at the foot of the Andes, where alluvial soils rich in limestone give the wine its signature minerality. Following a short cold soak of several days to draw out aroma, the wine ferments for around two weeks before aging eleven to thirteen months in French oak, with a portion of new barrels blended alongside older ones for added depth without overwhelming the fruit.

The finished wine shows a deep purple color with aromas of violet, blueberry, blackberry, and fresh plum. On the palate it turns plush and juicy, framed by chalky tannins that lend structure through a long, polished finish. Serve it with grilled hanger steak, herb-roasted chicken, or aged parmesan.