2015 Catena Zapata Adrianna Vineyard Mundus Bacillus Terrae Malbec Gualtallary Argentina

Winemaker Notes
The Catena Family is entering its second century of winemaking in Mendoza, Argentina. Named after Nicolás Catena Zapata’s youngest daughter, the Adrianna Vineyard is located at almost 5,000 feet elevation in Mendoza. The soils in this 1.4 hectare parcel are filled with scattered limestone and marine deposits that covered the region millions of years ago. The limestone layers are well-drained and particularly rich in rhizobacteria, the microorganisms that help vine roots withstand stress and absorb nutrients. Thus, the name "mundus bacillus terrae" or "elegant microbes of the earth".

Press
Rated 98 Points James Suckling
This is a phenomenal malbec with intense blue fruits such as blueberries and blackberries. Black truffle, too. Full-bodied, bright and juicy with fantastic power and richness. Yet the acidity just keeps going. Volcanic salt and white peppers. A thoroughly breathtaking wine. Try after 2020.

Rated 96 Points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
From what many have called a Bordelais year, the 2015 Adrianna Vineyard Mundus Bacillus Terrae is slightly riper and a little lower in acidity, meaning it's more "civilized" than the previous and following vintages. All three years come from the same shallow soils that are rich in limestone and have a similar vinification and upbringing. These 2015s are more marked by the vintage than the other two, which seem to be more transparent to the terroir. This is my favorite of the 2015s.

Rated 95 Points Decanter
Of the three single-parcel Malbecs from Catena in the Adrianna Vineyard, this is by far the most radical. From heavy calcareous soils, this is more than fruit – it smells of stones and chalk, has a tense, sharp structure with no hint of sweetness. Fresh and vivacious fruits towards the end.