Highly Allocated 98-Pointer Flagship!

Stashed away enough bottles of the Alta Malbec to last for weekday steak urgencies? Good. Here’s that special occasion treat from Catena.

Per Wine Advocate “when all is said and done, Catena Zapata is the Argentina winery of reference - the standard of excellence for comparing all others.” The Parcelas series is the epitome of that.

Fortuna Terrae, Latin for ‘luck of the land’ of deep, loamy soils with an unusually rich concentration of limestone, comes from a parcel right next door to the ‘River’ plot, presenting higher, more elegantly pitched notes than its deeper, more baritone neighboring plot within the famed Adrianna Vineyard. Per Dr. Catena’s notes “the deep loamy soils are home to many varieties of native grasses which prevent erosion and attract beneficial insects, singing birds, and mountain foxes.” Together, they sing an aria that redefines the potential of Malbec. This is for the connoisseur, with only 150 cases imported.

We are fortunate to have some of this to offer - at the best price you’ll find anywhere.

98 Points – Descorchados “The tannins are evident in this Fortuna. That texture on the tongue that so well identifies the reds (and sometimes the whites) from calcareous soils in the Uco Valley. Those heated tannins are the framework where the red fruits, the earthy and mineral notes, and the flowers of a juicy, energetic Malbec coexist. With slightly sweet touches that contrast with fine, sharp acidity, this is an excellent version of a red wine for aging. Fortuna Terrae comes from five hectares planted in the Adrianna Vineyard, in the mid-1990s, in Gualtallary, in the north of the Uco Valley. The soil is a deep, sandy loam with a layer of calcium carbonate toward the end, where the roots reach and give the wine that classic chalky texture. Aged in concrete vessels, 100% whole-cluster fermentation.”

98 Points – James Suckling “Deep brooding nose with a touch of cocoa powder to the deep, fresh blueberries, chiles and chocolate. Impeccable chalky tannins confer structure and resolve. Full-bodied but super fresh and bright, with a long, long finish.”