There's a delicious new wave of Argentinian wines that have been exciting us! Times and palates have changed a bit since Argentina's first big splash on the world wine stage, and the exploration of balance and freshness is in full swing worldwide. In the Mendoza province, which sits high up against the Andes Mountains, this has meant pushing vine-growing to cooler sites, further up the long slope. As those newer vineyards have matured, they've brought on an irresistible new style of Argentinian wine... but as our featured wine from Catena shows, the value that Argentina became known for is still there!
Arguably Argentina's flagship estate, Catena had already started their big moves in this direction in the 1990s, planting in the Gualtallary area at a boundary-pushing altitude of 5,000 feet! Here the soils have more gravels and stones, washed down from the Las Tunas River's ancient flows out of the valleys of the Andes. Summers have intense sunlight, warm, dry air and dramatic drops in temperature at night, creating wines with intense, concentrated fruit characters matched by firm, vibrant structures that might surprise those who haven't experienced them!
Catena's 2021 "Tribute to Gustav Klimt" Gualtallary Malbec is a delicious reflection of these mountain conditions! Starting with its inky, purple appearance from the thick, intensely-colored skins, it immediately impresses with its sleek, concentrated palate in a refreshing medium-bodied frame. The aromas and flavors are driven by a stony minerality, a thick layer of fully ripe purple and dark red fruits, soft florals, and well-meshed accents of baking spice and dark cocoa. What seals the deal in making this such a pleasure to drink is how well it's balanced into the finish: suave and concentrated fruit, countered by a finely-textured, mouth-coating grip of tannins and a mouthwatering - lightly saline - freshness that leaves you wanting more! The only problem might be the bottle running out too fast.
This elegantly powerful wine is adorned with a painting by celebrated Austrian artist, Gustav Klimt, which was made possible thanks to Argentinian chef and restaurateur, Francis Mallmann, who owns the original. It's no coincidence that Francis is a master of traditional mountain grill-outs (asados), as this is a fantastic wine for that! Meaty, well-seasoned fish, lean cuts of beef and provoleta (a thick cut of provolone-like cheese in a cast iron pan) fresh off the grill are great pairings.
Arguably Argentina's flagship estate, Catena had already started their big moves in this direction in the 1990s, planting in the Gualtallary area at a boundary-pushing altitude of 5,000 feet! Here the soils have more gravels and stones, washed down from the Las Tunas River's ancient flows out of the valleys of the Andes. Summers have intense sunlight, warm, dry air and dramatic drops in temperature at night, creating wines with intense, concentrated fruit characters matched by firm, vibrant structures that might surprise those who haven't experienced them!
Catena's 2021 "Tribute to Gustav Klimt" Gualtallary Malbec is a delicious reflection of these mountain conditions! Starting with its inky, purple appearance from the thick, intensely-colored skins, it immediately impresses with its sleek, concentrated palate in a refreshing medium-bodied frame. The aromas and flavors are driven by a stony minerality, a thick layer of fully ripe purple and dark red fruits, soft florals, and well-meshed accents of baking spice and dark cocoa. What seals the deal in making this such a pleasure to drink is how well it's balanced into the finish: suave and concentrated fruit, countered by a finely-textured, mouth-coating grip of tannins and a mouthwatering - lightly saline - freshness that leaves you wanting more! The only problem might be the bottle running out too fast.
This elegantly powerful wine is adorned with a painting by celebrated Austrian artist, Gustav Klimt, which was made possible thanks to Argentinian chef and restaurateur, Francis Mallmann, who owns the original. It's no coincidence that Francis is a master of traditional mountain grill-outs (asados), as this is a fantastic wine for that! Meaty, well-seasoned fish, lean cuts of beef and provoleta (a thick cut of provolone-like cheese in a cast iron pan) fresh off the grill are great pairings.
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