A little more expensive than the classic bottling. This site is a little cooler than Vista Flores. Bigger rocks in the soil. much more floral on the nose. Less rustic, a brighter style with more finesse.

11 years old and still drinking strong. medium gold. wow. rich cream and sweet corn aromas. full and just a touch nutty. vanilla, kernel and poached pear palate. drink to 2016/18. again, a high toned nut kernel on the nose and palate.

'more explosive and full bodied' than the Nicasia. right away, fuller and deeper aromas. blacker. riper. all black fruit here with hints of herb undertones. a touch of charcoal on the palate. Nice edge, but not the lift of the Nicasia.

fresh blackness to the aromas. an ocean breeze. 5-6% Cab Franc and in Adrianna too. very clean charcoal aroma. Tar, dark red and black fruit. lots of lift in the aromas. this site is 50km to the south of Adrianna. Nicasia is Nicolas Catena's Grandmother. Nicasia Vineyard at 1200m, warm daytime temps. Adrianna never gets above 30C even in January. Both vineyards have limestone. Alejandro says that harvest time and weather are more important here than the differences in terroir between the sites.

And yes, much more mineral in the aromas. A touch frosty and not unlike the iceberg-ishness of the Inama Soave. Ripe green apple with some pear fruit. A ripe feel, weightier on the palate next to the 09 Stones. Softer on the white pepper, but its still there.

Mineral and Burgundy thoughts in the aroma. White pepper palate. Vs the 05 Alta Chardonnay yesterday, this has much more of an old world acid profile. Mineral and stone fruit aromas, not too much of one over the other. Fantastic with veggie and cheese empanadas. White pepper, mint and herb. Vs the 09 Bones, the Stones carries the acid and the overall profile. Uh, buy.

A Viognier and Chardonnay blend. they really don't know the %. part of that 'why not?" and artistic nature of loosing track of the some of the details. 12 months in 80% new french oak. 20% stainless.
Apricot and peach aromas. Ernesto was the first to release a Viognier in Argentina 15 yrs ago. 'lemon custard' oak doesn't get in the way on the palate. a touch of oak tannin and spice. big and viscous. not too floral at all.

mostly Bonarda with Malbec. Red and black fruit. caramel. 'cocoa' Very finesse-y on the palate. rather modern flavors and aromas, but palate texture compensates.

bonarda is the core of this wine, but everything else finds its way in. Malbec, Cabernet, Cab Franc, Syrah, etc.
Shows more black fruit character on the palate. fuller and more weight. medium acid, medium+ tannin.
'as a concept, eclectic and cult.'
grassy pop on the palate.

a selection. 500btls. the technique (of selection) makes for not really knowing what is in the final wine.
loaded with caramel in the aromas. 'pink cotton candy' even more focused than the Misterio 2010. More structure and spice. more firmly planted in black fruit. lots more baking spice.

Chocolate and cocoa aromas. ~90% Malbec with Petit Verdot and in some vintages Cab Franc. Bla ck fruit, but very present cocoa. Rustic palate and medium/+ tannin again on rather firm acid.

100% Bonarda. Rich density of fruit aromas for Bonarda. Most pronounced and serious style of Bonarda that I have had. Very serious yet integrated oak. A touch of kernel. The Malbec shows the more up front and wood tinged oak. On the palate, wow, ripe red cherry and still a good level of easy and fine spice. Cherry and spice, but not cherry pie. Medium tannin with firm acid on a full body. Great along side the thickest grilled brie cheese. No bread. All cheese.

Cab Franc with Malbec.
No over done. Much more pulled back than the previous wines. Do they say 96pts someone? Red licorice. Red fruit. Dark red, but still red. How did I get stuck over in This corner? Medium/+ acid. A touch Medicinal

med/+ acid , medium tannin. Red and black fruit. A full elegance. A touch of wax and medicinal. Developing, but still all primary. Fruit gets a touch of mature. Cherry, blackberry and stone-y.

shy of tropical fruits. creamy with oak pronouncement. dialed back from the Alta 2011. fuller cream, softer spice accents. clove appears as the last taste is expelled.

much more fruit focus on the palate than the '12 classic Chard. still rather new worldy, but in that more elegant CA style. fair level of complexity, but after having the '09 white stones, I have trouble focusing here. acid pops. corn and cream. more of an ashen tinge on the palate. this is really starting to get going over the 30 minutes in the glass. great finish.

caramel and chocolate/cocoa aroma. smoke with tar and black fruit aroma. blackberry jam palate that hints at Amaro in the background. really crowd pleasing cab richness.

a fresher and not-all-black aroma. much more lift here, that makes the '11 classic Cab seem a bit obtuse. more giving texture and hints at herb. firm blackberry fruit palate without the jam of the Classic.

rustic red and black fruit aromas. herb harmony on the palate. baking spice, not the upfront red cherry of the '10 Alta Malbec.

a waxier red fruit aroma. fuller fruit, less rusticity, than the classic '11. floral aroma complexity. still some mid-palate spice and toast, but the oak feel rather restrained and respectful. fruit cocktail, maraschino cherry and peach juice aromas. mild graham cracker on the palate, not too rich. strawberry jam on the palate. this wine is dynamite.

fruit freshness, floral and firm aroma. mild woody aromas, but again at this $$, this is pretty and dialed back. a blend of Nicasia and Adrianna Vineyard Malbec. menthol, graham cracker. french barrel ferment. 1/2ton/ha. serious. some picked in middle of vintage, some picked late in vintage. 500-800cs, herb pop on the palate. cinnamon and allspice. '20yr potential'

not over the top, but pineapple cream is there. the oak has really dialed in quite harmoniously here, but still 4-5 years to resolve with more hedonism.

60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Malbec. 1997 was the first vintage of Nicolas Catena and it was 90% Cab. big red fruit expression on the nose. wax and pencil. spice and black fruit palate. supposedly, the secret is that there is 1-2% PV or CF in here. again, herb finish on the palate. all of these wines have immediate accessibility to them. 1000-1500cs.

the color of blood full of oxygen. harmonious and mature red fruit. mineral is pulling this wine freely along. mineral, mineral. 52% Cab and 48% Malbec. Cab from La Piramide Vineyard. Strawberry aroma. red berry palate. medium fine grained tannin. medium acid and fantastic balance. baked cherry and a med/+ finish.