Those who have shared our love for great wines for some time now will understand our special relationship with Argentinian producer Catena, particularly with Laura Catena who continues to champion Mendoza as a prominent wine growing region, and driving innovation and education in the world of Argentinian wines.
It’s because of this nurtured relationship and our admiration for Catena Zapata’s blends that we’re proud to bring to you some news…
As of April this year, we’re delighted to have added the exquisite Catena Appellation Paraje Altamira Malbec to our latest wine menu. We wanted to bring something beyond the expected to our guests, and through our excellent relationship with Catena, we were able to do so. This unique wine from the foothills of the Uco Valley (Valle de Uco), southwest of Mendoza, can only be found at Fogo de Chão restaurants within the UK.
Replacing our Catena Appellation Vista Flores, this 2016 vintage is slightly deeper and richer, deriving from a different appellation – Paraje Altamira. Uco Valley’s combination of intense sunlight and cooler nights produces a deep-texture Malbec with intense flavours.
Coming from one of the premier regions for producing top-grade Malbec, this rich wine with spices and a touch of leather embraces flavour profiles of plum, blackberry and red fruits, with notes of vanilla, lavender and mocha.
Paraje Altamira, an emerging and trendy area of Mendoza is home to alluvial soils consisting of 80% sand, 10% clay and 10% silt. The Altamira vineyards, consisting of 75 acres and with an elevation of 3,613 feet above sea level provide the perfect growing conditions for this Malbec.
The wine goes through a process of cold maceration over a 5-day period at 10°C. It then goes through fermentation for 16 days and this is then followed by a 10-day post-fermentation process. The wine is then barrel-aged for 12 months in 85% French oak and 15% American oak.
Whilst many Malbecs are now moving towards fresher styles, we believe the rich, dark fruit flavours of this Malbec are the perfect partner for our exquisitely grilled meats.
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