2006 Catena Zapata Malbec Adrianna Vineyard

Deep ruby-red. Captivating nose combines dark berries, mocha and smoky minerality, all lifted by a violet topnote. Very rich but classically dry, with outstanding intensity and depth of dark fruit flavor. There's no easy sweetness or flesh to this serious wine, which seems set for a decade or more of positive evolution in bottle. Vintage 2006 was a very warm year, but both this and the Nicosia Vineyard are in cool spots, and the Adrianna is situated at an altitude of 4,800 feet. According to Nicolas Catena, sunlight intensity at high altitude decreases tropical fruit aromas in white wines and also "kills" pyrazine aromas (e.g., green pepper) in cabernet.