2022 Bodega Catena Zapata Adrianna Vineyard Fortuna Terrae Malbec

98 pts
An elite, high-altitude Malbec from the famous Adrianna Vineyard and one of the great wines of Argentina.

Price:
Sale price$199.00
Stock:
In stock, ready to ship, only 1 unit left
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Description

Catena Zapata’s Adrianna Vineyard is arguably the most studied piece of dirt in the Southern Hemisphere. Sitting at almost 1,500 metres in Gualtallary, it’s a high-altitude site that has been sliced and diced by the Catena Institute to find the specific "parcelas" that produce world-class Malbec. The Fortuna Terrae (luck of the land) parcel is defined by its deep loamy soils and the native grasses that grow between the vines.

The 2022 vintage was crafted by Argentina's most iconic winemaker, Alejandro Vigil - often called the "Messi of Wine" - who leans into the site's natural freshness. The winemaking is highly detailed: up to 80% whole cluster fermentation and a long cold soak to pin down those delicate aromatics. It’s aged for over a year in massive, 10-year-old 2,200L French oak foudres, a move that allows the wine to breathe and develop without being smothered by new wood.

The result is a Malbec that trades raw power for elegance and tension. It’s incredibly aromatic, showing spicy black fruit and distinct floral notes that are a hallmark of the high-altitude Adrianna site. The palate is rounded and smooth, but the acidity from the deep soils gives it a racy, energetic edge. It’s an elite, site-specific wine that’s drinking beautifully now but has the stuffing to evolve for decades.

98 points
"Deep brooding nose with a touch of cocoa powder to the deep, fresh blueberries, chiles and chocolate. Impeccable chalky tannins confer structure and resolve. Full-bodied but super fresh and bright, with a long, long finish. Need two or three years at least to let complexity come through."
- Zekun Shuai (James Suckling)

96+ points
"The 2022 Adrianna Vineyard Malbec Fortuna Terrae is pure, floral, herbal and elegant on the nose, followed by a svelte, soft and richly textured palate enlivened with an increasingly electric core of acidity... This is a fantastic cornerstone of the upper echelon of Catena Zapata Malbecs..."
- Matthew Luczy (The Wine Advocate)

98 points - "Deep brooding nose with a touch of cocoa powder to the deep, fresh blueberries, chiles and chocolate. Impeccable chalky tannins confer structure and resolve. Full-bodied but super fresh and bright, with a long, long finish. Need two or three years at least to let complexity come through. 100% whole cluster. Drink from 2027." - Zekun Shuai (James Suckling)

96+ points - "The 2022 Adrianna Vineyard Malbec Fortuna Terrae is pure, floral, herbal and elegant on the nose, followed by a svelte, soft and richly textured palate enlivened with an increasingly electric core of acidity. It concludes with a solid, vibrant finish framed by refined, discreet tannins, gradually gaining length and dimension with time in the glass. This is a fantastic cornerstone of the upper echelon of Catena Zapata Malbecs and a lovely midpoint between the more lifted and ethereal River and the more sumptuous Mundus Bacillus Terrae bottlings." - Matthew Luczy (The Wine Advocate)

95 points - "This elegant version leads with fresh lilac and mineral aromas.
The palate is polished yet defined, with precise mineral tension to the generous core of cherry and Santa Rosa plum flavors. Subtle guava details chime in and everything seems to swell midpalate around fresh acidity and carry onto the finish around
fine tannins. 490 cases made." - Wine Spectator

WINE DESCRIPTION

Fortuna Terrae means luck of the land in Latin, and indeed, our vines from this plot of the Adrianna Vineyard are lucky. The deep loamy soils are home to many varieties of native grasses which prevent erosion and attract beneficial insects, singing birds and mountain foxes. Because of the freshness imparted by the deep soils and high altitude, the wines of Fortuna Terrae have optimal acidity and delicate flower aromas. It is best to enjoy this wine a few years or decades after harvest.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

This wine goes through an extensive cold maceration (60% to 80% Whole Cluster) of 3-7days at less than 50ºF (10ºC) to extract aromas. The juice is then fermented for around 10-19 days with a total maceration of approximately 8-12 days. Elevage: 14-18 months in French Oak barrel (10+ years old 2200 lts. Foudres).

Varietal: 100% Malbec

Alcohol: 13.7%

Total Acidity: 6.85 grams/liter

pH: 3.55

500 lts foudres

Wild yeasts

Key Word Descriptors: Very aromatic, spicy black fruit, moderate acidity, rounded and smooth. Elegant

Price Bracket $101 and Above
Type Red
Body Full Bodied
Variety Malbec
Country Argentina
Region Mendoza
Feature High Score
Reviewed By The Wine Advocate
Critic Score 96
Size 750ml
Vintage 2022
Closure Cork

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