As a bonus article tonight please see the following regarding Catena Vineyards in Argentina. Catena has always made great wine and I was able to host a small get together where we had Catena's 2005 Catena Alta Cabernet Sauvignon that unfortunately is sold out and no longer available. But the good news is you can purchase the 2015 which is available for under $30 a bottle just look for it on https://www.wine-searcher.com/
Laura Catena is one of the owners of Catena Vineyards in Argentina. A few years ago I met her at a wine tasting and purchased 10 cases of wine and asked her if she would mind signing the bottles and wooden cases. She graciously did and her and her workers unwrapped every bottle, she signed the bottle, and then they rewrapped the bottles sealed the case and signed the case. It was a lot of work.
Last October I ran into her again in NYC at the Wine Experience and asked her if she remembered me, reminding her I was the person who had purchased 10 cases from her a few years ago. She immediately threw her arms around me and said I sure do. I have never forgotten that day. Because of you and your large purchase, you made my trip to the USA that year and I will never forget it. We had a couple of nice chats and hopefully, I will see her in the future. Of interest, she is a fully trained emergency room physician and continues to work some ER shifts but her main job now is helping running and marketing the vineyard.
Winemaker Notes
Ripe dark fruit on the nose is accompanied by hints of cedar wood and tobacco and then followed on the palate by full flavors of black currant, black cherry and spice. It all comes together on the elegant finish with hints of espresso and clove.
Critical Acclaim was given to the 2005 by both Wine Spectator and Robert Parker
WS93
Wine Spectator
RP92
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Purple-colored, it has an alluring nose of pain grille, pencil lead, spice box, black currant and blackberry liqueur. This is followed by a medium to full-bodied, intense wine with superb depth of flavor, excellent concentration, and a firm finish.
To help you with the 2015 which is available here are the professional reviews on the 2015.
Critical Acclaim for the 2015
Quite an exotic nose with a hint of passion fruit alongside the more familiar cassis, red bell pepper, and chocolate notes. Rich with plush tannins and healthy acidity. An impressive Cabernet that’s also easy to enjoy. Drink or hold.
As always, the 2015 Catena Alta Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of different plots in order to achieve greater complexity. It usually comes from the La Pirámide, Domingo and Nicasia vineyards, with approximately 50% of the grapes from Luján and the other half from Valle de Uco. It contains some 5% Cabernet Franc. It fermented in 500-liter French oak barrels and aged in 225- and 500-liter oak barrels for 18 months. It's super varietal, with powerful herbal and spicy aromatics, serious and without a trace of heat. It has an elegant and fresh palate with bright, vibrant flavors and great length. I consider this a real triumph, as 2015 was very challenging for Cabernet, especially in Luján, where they avoided harvesting earlier.
JD92 Jeb Dunnuck
While I wasn’t able to taste the 2016, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Catena Alta Historic Rows showed beautifully, with plenty of cassis and black cherry fruits, notes of leafy herbs, damp earth, and cedar, medium to full body, and silky, polished tannins. I love its balance and purity, and while it’s certainly delicious today, I suspect it will cruise for 10-15 years on its balance and overall harmony.
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