Bodega y Viñedos Catena

Catena Chardonnay

Mendoza

$ ARS

Release Price

Drink Window

13.6%

ABV

3.3

pH

5.65

TA

RS

Growing Conditions

A Blend of Four Vineyards - vineyards are divided into lots that are harvested at different times:
Agrelo (3,117 ft (950 m) elevation: alluvial origin. Clay topsoil with rounded rocks on the bottom.
Villa Bastías 3,675 ft (1,120 m) elevation: alluvial origin. Silt loamy soil with limestone on the bottom.
Gualtallary 4,757 ft (1,450 m) elevation: alluvial origin. Gravel and limestone soil. Rounded rocks in the bottom.
El Cepillo, Eugenio Bustos 3,593 ft (1,090 m) elevation: alluvial origin. Loam-sandy soil with thick calcareous layersand rounded rocks on the bottom.

Harvest

The summer of 2019 started with warmer than usual temperatures and then cooled off in February. Decreased snow in the winter months resulted in water shortages which led to overall yields being down 20-30%. The lack of summer rains resulted in perfectly healthy grapes. The big scare of the season came on March 19th, 2020, when the Argentine government declared an obligatory quarantine and we feared that harvest would have to stop with some of our best grapes still on the vine. Late in the day, an order exempting wine as an essential food product came through, allowing us to continue harvesting through the first week of April. Strict social distancing and other necessary precautions were put in place and all office personnel moved to working from home. The winery was closed to visitors a few days prior. Winemakers can't remember an earlier harvest year. The cool climate areas at extreme high altitude in the Uco Valley are yielding beautifully concentrated wines with intense aromatics, optimal texture and structure, and high acidity (healthy levels of malic acid). Head winemaker Alejandro Vigil calls it one of the best vintages of the last 10 years.

Winemaking

Whole cluster pressed; fermented, sur lies, in barrels and stainless steel. Wild yeasts. 40% does not undergo malolactic fermentation.

Aging

6-8 months in French oak. Barrel selection varies depending on vineyard and vintage – First, Second and third use barrels used.

More from this Producer

Bodega y Viñedos CatenaNicasia Vineyards Doux

Nicasia Vineyards Doux is a young sparkling wine made from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Moscatel

Bodega y Viñedos CatenaSaint Felicien Sangiovese

The Saint Felicien brand dates back more than 40 years, when we launched our first Cabernet Sauvignon for the Argentine market. It was the first 100% varietal wine produced in Argentina, a trend soon to be followed by other wineries in the country. Currently, Saint Felicien is made in the same style that was previously reserved for export wines. The great success achieved in demanding markets such as England, the United States, Canada, Germany and the Netherlands inspired us to launch this international wine style in Argentina.

Bodega y Viñedos CatenaDV Catena Malbec Nicasia Vineyard

The grapes for D.V. Catena are sourced from high altitude, mountain vineyards planted at elevations between 3297’ and 3957’ above sea level. Years of research, lead to the identification of the ideal “terroir” that could offer the highest concentration of aromas and flavors.