Nose
The nose is focused and intense, offering aromas of ripe black currants and cassis fruits with a touch of vanilla and sweet spice.
Palate
The mouthfeel is full, yet soft with flavors of ripe red berry fruits and notes of eucalyptus and black pepper. The finish is well structured and persistent, with finely grained tannins that are soft and sweet on the palate.
Growing Conditions
Reflecting the first vintage of a microclimate blended wine, this Catena Alta Cabernet Sauvignon is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from the lime, clay soil of Lot 3 in the La Pirámide vineyard and the sandy, lime soil of Lot 3 in the Domingo vineyard. The 2001 vintage was characterized by slightly cooler than average temperatures during the day, with average March highs about 0.5° C lower than normal in La Pirámide resulting in fresh ripe cassis flavors and complex aromatics. In Domingo, the March conditions were slightly warmer than usual, with average temperatures about 1° C higher than usual, lending touches of roasted green pepper and eucalyptus to the final blend. This vintage should be enjoyed in 4 to 6 years and will continue to improve over the following 12 years.
The winter of 2000 began with a great deal of early snowfall. A large accumulation of snow throughout the winter ensured an ample supply of irrigation water for the 2000-2001 growing season. Spring arrived early, with some areas seeing budbreak as early as September. Mild temperatures and the lack of any late frosts lead to an abundant and very uniform budbreak. Moderate temperatures and low relative humidity throughout the rest of Spring resulted in an excellent flowering and set, with full, uniform clusters.
The Summer months were hot and very dry in the high altitude wine country of Mendoza, producing a high level of water stress which kept berry size small. The end of January saw a reduction in temperature and some isolated rain, relieving the stress which the vines were experiencing. The careful and correct management of irrigation, together with proper canopy management in the Catena Zapata vineyards, left the vines in excellent conditions to accumulate and develop the important elements of aromas and flavor.
Harvest
In February, in preparation for the harvest, leaf thinning and green harvesting activities were performed, allowing the isolated clusters to increase their concentration. This also helped to increase aeration of the clusters. Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir grapes were harvested in excellent conditions, with optimum maturity in the first half of March.
During the third week of March rain fell over some areas of Mendoza. Harvest was delayed in the Catena Zapata vineyards in order to allow the grapes to recover their flavor concentration. When the harvest began again, rain in some parts of Mendoza complicated the panorama. In areas which experienced heavy rainfall, or whose soils did not allow for good drainage, some rot and dilution were evident. However, in those areas which experienced little precipitation or whose soil and slope allowed for easy drainage, maturation continued smoothly, although a little later than in previous years.
