Catena Malbec Mendoza Wine

Catena 2004 $20
Malbec Mendoza

Here’s our Wine of the Week selection for you. It’s a really bold wine from Argentina… the Catena 2004 Malbec Mendoza.

Malbec in general has been underappreciated, except in Argentina. Catena is a great example of how this brash red wine can show off.

One sip will tell you there’s a lot going on in this wine! The flavors jump right out at you. You’ll likely taste ripe plum and juicy dark berries but with a density that makes for a mouth filling glass of wine.

This Malbec is like a big Cabernet but with the softness and red licorice flavors of Merlot. Catena grows the grapes in the foothills of the Andes where the cool nights give way to sun drenched days…great for ripening in its full flavor.

The Catena 2004 Malbec is a terrific introduction to this grape at about twenty dollars a bottle and it’s not hard to find. It certainly fits all the criteria for a Wine of the Week!

Pop the Cork™.

Wine on the Radio – May 25, 2007

Winemaker’s notes and comments:Intense aroma of cassis, red currants with a touch of eucalyptus and tea leaves. The mouthfeel is full yet soft, with concentrated fruit flavors, notes of cedar and tobacco and a long lingering finish.

The Catena family has conducted extensive research into the soils and microclimates of Mendoza's high altitude wine country in the foothills of the Andes mountains. At different altitudes, the family’s Malbec vineyards express a unique profile of aromas and flavors: the ripe plum fruit flavors and silky texture of the Angelica vineyard (2,850’ elevation); the dark fruit character and pepper notes of the La Pirámide vineyard (3,100’ elevation); the black cherry aromas and excellent structure of the Altamira vineyard (3,870’ elevation); the explosive floral aromatics full, concentrated mouthfeel of the Adrianna vineyard (5,000’). The blend of these components creates a wine of unique character that has balance, concentration and a strong varietal identity.

Wine Spectator 90 points - Great aromas of crushed blueberry and raspberry, with a juicy texture and well-integrated toast and mineral notes. Nice blast of pure fruit on the finish. Drink now through 2009. 19,000 cases made.

Notes on our Wines of the Week, Recommendations, and Picks:

When you read our thoughts, please remember that you may think differently. A particular wine may be your favorite and not on our list. Well, don't stop buying it because of that. In fact, you may want to email us and let us know about it. These are our opinions but our FIRST recommendation is to go by your own palate.

A couple of other thoughts . . . first, prices are approximate. They'll vary. Second, different vintages mean different grapes and different tastes so our recommendation for a 2000 Merlot may not hold for 2001.

And lastly, we remind you to drink responsibly! Now, all that said, here is a summary of links to our suggestions. Find one (or more) and pop the cork!

Read the fine print . . .

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