“Holy Andes!” we cried, echoing all the way to the great ranges where today’s wine hails from; the Catena name on a pure Malbec for 18 bucks? As in Catena, one of the only 3 South American producers to ever earn a 100-point score from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, with their top Malbecs fetching $100s a bottle? This deal WILL BE GONE in a matter of hours, just a few months ago even this perennial award winner winery was praised by the Advocate as; “one of the quality leaders in Argentina, the wines are phenomenal, true to their place and vintage.”

Deep ruby, reminiscent of an almost black ripe cherry, with purple hues within. A stunning perfume adorns the nose, where rich, ripe dark berries mingle with savory and mineral notes. An elegant palate is dominated by dark chocolate covered blueberries, plum, spices and loads of polished tannins. The finish wraps it all up with a peppery warm touch running through a lively, long, and seamless finale. This is a match made in heaven for a typical Argentine char-grilled feast, with skirt steak, veggies, and chimichurri.

While the La Consulta sub-appellation is only 75 miles from the Mendoza plains, this vineyard is at 3,600 feet elevation which makes grape growing here a true labor of love in the foothills of the 19,100 feet towering dormant San José volcano. Being one of the highest altitude wine regions on earth means abundant sunlight and significant day to night temperature swings that result in profound wines. All that elevation for a sub-$20 price tag thanks to huge savings, is truly rare Operatives, and did we say this Malbec smells and tastes gorgeous as can be?

Here is what the wine press has to say:

91 Points – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate - “The name Catena on the label is a guarantee of quality. For now the whole appellation range comes from single vineyards, and the 2015 Appellation La Consulta Malbec is sourced from an old 25-hectare vineyard in the banks of the Tunuyán river in the higher part of La Consulta, very close to Altamira, where the soils have clay and boulders from the river. This part of the Valle de Uco in a cool vintage like 2015 produced a serious, cold Malbec, with a mineral sensation and a palate where the tannins are extremely fine. It developed a note of graphite with time in the glass.”

90+ Points – Stephen Tanzer, Vinous - “From clay and rocky soils. right ruby-red. Pungent, sexy aromas of brooding purple fruits and licorice. Chewy, dense, savory and dry, in a rather masculine, youthfully medicinal style. Flavors of dark berries and graphite minerality convey a strong impression of dry extract. Finishes tactile and long.”