Catena Zapata Adrianna Vineyard Fortuna Terrae Malbec 2021

Cellar for up to 16 years. No need to decant before serving. It’s no exaggeration to say that the Catena family helped put Argentina on the map for world-class Malbec. They’ve made wine in Argentina’s Mendoza region for four generations and were the first to start exporting premium Malbec wines around the world in the 1990s. These days the family business is headed up by the visionary Nicolas Catena and his daughter, Laura, who have collectively spent decades studying Mendoza’s high altitude vineyards. Amongst their vineyard holdings is the prestigious Adrianna Vineyard in the Uco Valley, the highest altitude sub-region in Mendoza, where top quality Malbec vines are planted 1450 metres above sea level. This plot is perfect for premium winemaking thanks to the gravel soils, warm and sunny days, and cooler nights which ensure a long ripening season. This magnificent cuvee is named “Fortuna Terrae”, meaning “luck of the land” in Latin, which refers to the excellent terroir. Once in the winery the fruit is fermented with wild yeasts in 225 and 500 litre oak casks followed by 18 months of ageing. This adds extra polish and complexity to the finished wine, highlighting the smooth, well-rounded tannins and adding smoky, oaked notes to the rich dark berry flavours. A great Malbec to serve alongside a ribeye steak or barbecued ribs, although it can also be cellared for a decade or more longer.

Price: £93.37 from 8wines UK