2019 Alamos Malbec

Fruit from two vineyards: Nicasia (planted 1996, La Consulta District) and Angélica (planted in 1930 in Lunlunta District). Hand-picked. Whole-cluster, spontaneous fermentation, aged in French oak for 18 months. Smells at first of Parma Violets and then real violets; then damsons, then damson jam. If ever a wine purred while winding silky, feline figures-of-eight around your soul, it would be this wine. The texture of the tannins is spine-tinglingly beautiful... like the breath of a kiss before someone's lips touch your skin. It's a wine that simply wants to be loved. Mulberries bleed into plum skins, there is the finest sprinkle of fragrant black pepper on the surface, deep-red rose petals sinking into the fruit – which is somehow both luscious and fragrant, generously ripe and cold-crushed-rocks mineral. Catena somehow seems to find the spine-soul-poetry connectedness of Malbec. (TC)

The 2019 Malbec Argentino is a blend of grapes from venerable vineyards in Lunlunta and Paraje Altamira; it is essentially a premium Mendoza Malbec. A significant amount was fermented in whole bunches before spending 18 months in used French barrels. The complex nose presents notes of plum and blueberry with hints of country herb, jarilla and pennyroyal over a bed of sour cherry and cedar. There is a whiff of lavender perfume. The fine tannins act as a net that shapes rather than structures the volume. It has good energy and elasticity with grip, juicy freshness and a complex layer of fruit appearing at the back of the mouth. The 2019 is an accomplished wine in a year that allowed for nuance and freshness.

This is made from over 100-year-old vineyards and offers blackberries with blue fruit and dark chocolate. Shows bark and black truffle undertones, too. Tight and more focused than in past vintages. The quality of the tannins is more precise and fine. Blackberries and black truffles at the end. Drink or hold.