Adrianna Vineyard River Stones Malbec
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 5 to 20 years from the vintage release, with the structure to cellar for 25+ years in exceptional vintages.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Grilled ribeye steak, roasted rack of lamb, wild boar stew
✨ wine.spec_sheet
Hailing from the legendary Adrianna Vineyard in Gualtallary, situated at an extreme altitude of nearly 4,500 feet in the Uco Valley, the River Stones Malbec represents the pinnacle of parcel-specific viticulture. The wine takes its name from a specific parcel that occupies an ancient, dry riverbed covered with smooth, oval white stones. These stones act as thermal regulators, absorbing the intense high-altitude Andean sunshine during the day and radiating heat to the vines during the cold mountain nights, while also providing exceptional drainage. This unique micro-terroir yields a Malbec of extraordinary complexity, characterized by deep black fruit, striking mineral tension, and an elegant, violet-perfumed nose. It is a testament to the Catena family's pioneering quest to prove that Argentina's high-altitude soils can produce wines of world-class stature and profound longevity.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Founded in 1902 by Italian immigrant Nicola Catena, the historic Catena Zapata estate is located in Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina, and remains family-owned under the visionary leadership of Nicolás Catena Zapata and his daughter Laura. Renowned for pioneering high-altitude viticulture in the Andean foothills, the winery revolutionized Argentine winemaking by proving that world-class, age-worthy wines could be produced from extreme mountain terroirs. Their production philosophy focuses on meticulous parcel selection and soil-specific micro-vinifications, particularly within the acclaimed Adrianna Vineyard. Catena Zapata is celebrated globally for its profound, structured red wines, most notably its flagship Bordeaux-style blend, Nicolás Catena Zapata, and the highly expressive, mineral-driven Adrianna Vineyard River Stones Malbec.