2022 Bodegas Catena Zapata Adrianna Vineyard River Malbec
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The drying, grippy feel on your gums and tongue, as with strong tea. It comes from the skins and seeds of black grapes and from oak, and softens with age.
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The bars follow how sommeliers taste (WSET): body, tannin, sweetness and acidity, each from low to high.
Body: powerful. Like most red wines from ; 14% alcohol.
Tannin: firm. From ; aged in oak.
Sweetness: dry. Red wine from is almost always dry.
Acidity: fairly low. from the warm climate of .
Aromas: flowers, dark fruit and spice, typical of
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Log inThe famous Adrianna vineyard in Gualtallary is perhaps the most studied vineyard in the world and is Catena's finest vineyard for Malbec. The vineyard is situated at a respectable altitude of 1,480 meters. Only in this area (altitude and plot) can the Malbec vines optimally absorb nutrients, ensuring that this absolute grand cru among Adriannas is remarkably expressive and distinctive. Since 2011, a high-end Adrianna has been produced under the names Adrianna Mundus Bacillus, Terrae, Adrianna Fortuna Terrae, and Adrianna River Stones. This River Stones is a unique and very rare wine, produced in an extremely limited quantity. The River Stones comes from a small 2.6-hectare parcel of the Adrianna vineyard, which is covered with white oval stones and was once a riverbed. This special piece of vineyard therefore has exceptionally good drainage. The vineyard is situated at an altitude of 1366 meters, so it's warm during the day and cool at night. However, the white pebbles store the day's heat and slowly release it during the night, resulting in a very gradual warming and cooling. The wine was aged for 24 months in French oak. The stony soil makes this Malbec highly aromatic, rich, and delicate. This is a superb Malbec with beautifully soft tannins. It can be enjoyed young, but it can also be savored for decades. This is an absolute collector's item and exceptionally beautiful. Despite its high price, it's a mere pittance compared to expensive Bordeaux and Burgundies.
The Adrianna Vineyard River Stones is consistently the freshest and most austere of the three single-plot bottlings from the Adrianna Vineyard on Gultallary. This Malbec fermented with approximately 70% full bunches, as it was harvested at three different times, with the first two being fermented full bunches and the last being destemmed. The nose is subtle, elegant, and nuanced; the grapes were picked quite early, resulting in a lively palate with almost citrus (blood orange) notes. A small percentage of the wine was aged in stainless steel. Irrigation was used, with only four irrigations this year, allowing for greater precision in the winemaking process, which is reflected in the wine's balance. It has very fine tannins, a very fine grain, and a dry, long, and flavorful finish. It is distinctly stony, true to the character of the site. Red fruit, structured and mineral.
Bodega Catena Zapata is considered the flagship of Argentina's wineries. Robert Parke's statement is telling: "When all is said and done, Catena Zapata is the Argentina winery of reference, the standard of excellence."
Character
The wine
- 100%
Origin
Bottle
Wine features
Parker
The Wine Advocate
RP 98+
Reviewed by:
Matthew Luczy
Release Price:
$240
Drink Date:
2025 - 2042
The 2022 Adrianna Vineyard Malbec River squarely occupies the most ethereal, lifted and weightless expression of Malbec in the Catena Zapata roster. It opens with a floral, lively and open-knit bouquet that hints at the stony, mineral-tinged tension to follow on the palate. In the mouth, it displays a taut, spry and gently succulent texture that is deceptively rich and powerful despite its nimble nature, releasing into a persistent, long and unwaveringly focused finish. This is a perfect counterpoint to the more robust Malbec Mundus Bacillus Terrae bottling and will appeal to readers seeking nuance and minerality above all else.
It is difficult to avoid hyperbole when discussing the Catena family's impact on Argentine wine. It is the rare wine-producing country that can rightfully assign such an outsized contribution to the success of one producer that would propel the success of the wines of an entire nation. Equally remarkable is the relatively brief time scale on which such a global phenomenon has occurred, spanning just three generations from its founding in 1908.
The plethora of Catena bottlings ranges from entry-level, widely distributed supermarket SKUs to site-specific gems under the Catena Zapata heading. Their relentless progress and expansion have occurred alongside a parallel endeavor to utilize science for terroir analysis, viticultural planning and winemaking practices through the Catena Wine Institute. Among others, their analysis of Gualtallary's Adrianna Vineyard exemplifies the importance of an informed perspective on terroir, central to closing the gap between the merely good and truly great wines of the world. Catena occupies a remarkably rare position in the wine world as a producer that can be aptly described as both a juggernaut and an artisanal, intentional student of their vineyards.
Winemaking director Alejandro Vigil is a bona fide celebrity winemaker—locally referred to as "The Messi of Wine"—and judging by the two hours I spent walking the Chachingo wine fair with him, the fandom I observed must be comparable to strolling a music trade show in the presence of Mick Jagger. Perhaps most impressive of all is the grace, care and unadulterated passion for wine that he relentlessly displays. As for the wines themselves, his reputation precedes him at each turn and each price point: as referential as the famed Parcelas bottlings from Adrianna Vineyard undoubtedly are, the entry-level Catena wines struck me as nearly equally impressive in their own right, each precisely summarizing their varieties and origins with equally yolked precision across the range.
Published: May 01, 2025
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James Suckling
Score
99
Catena Zapata Malbec Mendoza Adrianna Vineyard River 2022
Wednesday, Feb 07, 2024
Color
Red
Country
Argentina
Region
Mendoza
Vintage
2022
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Probably the most austere among the three Adrianna Vineyard malbecs. Arresting nose already, with a touch of white pepper to the deep black and blue fruit. Huge depth and profoundness, but at the same time it is so fresh. The difference is more obvious on the palate if you compare this with the Mundus Bacillus Terrae and Fortuna Terrae bottlings. This shows the claws of the mineral tannins, which are a little less fleshy than Mundus, but with more tension. Seamless, taut and long. Drink from 2026.
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Vinous
98
Drinking Window
2025 - 2045
From: Uco Valley: The Age of High-Elevation Reds (Nov 2024)
The 2022 Malbec Adrianna Vineyard River was aged for up to 21 months in French oak barrels. This was sourced from a terroir-driven plot, planted in 1992 in Gualtallary, Tupungato, on an old riverbed. The aromas reveal blackberry and ripe plum, with hints of grass, cherry, arugula, lavender and sage, complemented by black tea and herbal tension. This raw Malbec features chalky intensity and a fine, compact expression. It is well defined and exhibits a reductive character, making it quite intriguing. This very seductive and long-lasting high-elevation Malbec evokes the elegance of a Pinot Noir.
- By Joaquín Hidalgo on November 2024
Catena Zapata is the quintessential ambassador of Argentine wine on the international stage. In the 1980s, third-generation Nicolás Catena Zapata shifted the family’s focus from mass-market brands to producing world-class wines, establishing vineyards at higher elevations in search of cooler climates. This journey led to the La Pirámide vineyard in Agrelo, followed by the Domingo and Adrianna vineyards in Tupungato, and the Nicasia vineyard in Paraje Altamira. Today, Laura Catena, Nicolás’s daughter, leads the operation with a distinguished team, including Alejandro Vigil in the winery and Fernando Buscema at the Catena Institute of Wine. Together, they take a science-driven approach, crafting renowned parcel wines that embody the unique character of high-elevation viticulture— White Bones and White Stones Chardonnay, River, Fortuna Terrae, and Mundus Bacillus, among others.
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Bodega Catena Zapata ranks among the absolute top of the Argentine wine world. This family estate from Mendoza, founded in 1902, sparked a revolution in South American viticulture. Through high-altitude pioneering and an uncompromising focus on quality, Catena Zapata not only put the Malbec grape on the map, but also helped establish Argentina’s reputation as a serious wine-producing nation. In this article, you’ll learn more about the impressive history, the iconic wines, and the innovative character of this leading winery.
Bodega Catena Zapata: Iconic Winery from Mendoza
Bodega Catena Zapata is one of Argentina’s most influential wineries and plays a key role in shaping the global reputation of Argentine fine wine. The winery was founded in 1902 by Nicola Catena, an Italian immigrant who sought his fortune in Mendoza. He planted his first vineyard with the Malbec grape, which was then still an unknown variety in Argentina.
His son, Domingo Catena, carried on his father’s dream and became one of Mendoza’s largest vineyard owners. However, the family business also faced adversity: in the 1960s, Argentina was hit by economic instability and sky-high inflation.
Nicolás Catena: The Man Who Reinvented Argentine Wine
The young Nicolás Catena, freshly graduated as an economist, took over the business in the mid-1960s. At a time when Argentina was mainly known for bulk wine production, Nicolás made the bold decision to focus on quality. Against all odds, he sold off the table wine-producing part of the family business and retained only Bodegas Esmeralda, the foundation for high-quality wines.
His vision was revolutionary: Argentina had to leverage the quality of its terroir to compete at the highest international level. He began replanting Malbec and Chardonnay at high altitudes, including in Gualtallary, a subregion in the Uco Valley located over 1,500 meters above sea level. While many believed Malbec would never ripen at that altitude, Catena proved otherwise.
Malbec as an Argentine Icon
The Malbec grape is now inseparably linked to Argentina — largely thanks to Nicolás Catena. In 1994, he released his first Catena Malbec, made from old vines in the Adrianna Vineyard. This vineyard turned out to be of exceptional quality and helped elevate the global reputation of Malbec.
Catena even planted 145 different Malbec clones and rigorously tested their suitability. Ultimately, he selected the best clones for his top-tier wines, including those from the La Pirámide vineyard.
Laura Catena: Science Meets Winemaking
In 2001, Nicolás handed over the R&D project to his daughter Laura Catena, a medical doctor with degrees from Harvard and Stanford. Her scientific background brought a new dimension to the winemaking process. Together with her team, she focused on the extreme microclimates of the high-altitude vineyards, which led to unique expressions of Malbec.
In 2004, the decision was made to ferment the grapes from these vineyards directly in new French oak barrels. This resulted in three groundbreaking Malbecs that today stand as symbols of the winery’s innovative power.
The Wines of Catena Zapata: Five Distinct Lines
The winery produces five wine lines, each with its own character and level of quality:
- Catena Zapata: The flagship cuvées, made only in exceptional vintages.
- Catena Alta: Wines from the best parcels of high-altitude vineyards.
- Catena: The core line, balancing elegance and typicity.
- Alamos: Accessible wines with excellent value for money.
- Argento: The most commercial line, aimed at a broader market (Note: this line was later spun off and is no longer directly part of Catena Zapata).
All of these wines come from vineyards located at 900 meters or higher, clearly emphasizing Catena Zapata’s commitment to terroir and elevation.
Innovation, Vision, and Terroir at Catena Zapata
Catena Zapata is a textbook example of how vision, perseverance, and innovation can lead to international acclaim. From the first Malbec plantings in 1902 to Laura Catena’s cutting-edge vinification methods, the winery continues to evolve without losing sight of its roots.
The iconic winery building, shaped like a Mayan pyramid and designed in the 1990s, symbolizes the connection between past and future. It serves as the physical and philosophical heart of the estate.
Buying Wines from Bodega Catena Zapata at Grandcruwijnen?
At Grandcruwijnen, we offer a wide selection of Catena wines. Whether you're looking for an approachable Alamos Malbec or an impressive Catena Alta Chardonnay, you'll find it in our assortment. Order easily online or pick up your wines at our pickup center in Dordrecht. Our sommeliers are happy to advise you on the best food pairings for your favorite Catena wines.
Deze Adrianna Vineyard River Malbec toont een sierlijke mix van donkere bramen en rijpe pruim, bloemige tonen van lavendel en salie, een chalky minerale spanning en fijne, knisperende tannines die samen voor een lange, elegante afdronk zorgen. Door die frisse zuurgraad, strakke tannines en mineraliteit snijdt de wijn prachtig door vet en umami, waardoor hij rundvlees, lamsgerechten, rijke charcuterie en rijpe kazen zowel ondersteunt als verfijnt. Bereidingen met grill- of houtskoolaroma zoals een mooi gegrilde entrecote, langzaam gegaarde lamsbout met kruidenkorst of een peper- en zoutgerubte bavette, maar ook een plank met gerijpte harde kazen en lichte augurken, tillen de kruidige en steenachtige kanten van deze Malbec extra naar voren.
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