Catena Malbec Paraje Altamira
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 3–10 years from vintage release.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Grilled ribeye steak, roasted lamb chops, portobello mushroom burgers
✨ wine.spec_sheet
Part of Catena Zapata's pioneering Appellation series, this wine celebrates the distinct microclimate and ancient soils of Paraje Altamira, located in the southern Uco Valley of Mendoza at an elevation of over 3,500 feet. The region is defined by its extreme diurnal temperature swings and unique soil profile, rich in calcium carbonate-coated gravels. This terroir imparts a striking mineral tension and elegant structure to the Malbec grape, contrasting with the riper, more opulent styles found in lower elevations. Under the guidance of Laura Catena and head winemaker Alejandro Vigil, this bottling showcases how the family's decades of soil study have redefined Argentine Malbec, yielding a wine of intense violet aromatics, dark fruit, and a chalky, textured finish.
🍾 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.