2022 Bodega Catena Zapata Adrianna Vineyard Fortuna Terrae Malbec

Catena Zapata’s Adrianna Vineyard is arguably the most studied piece of dirt in the Southern Hemisphere. Sitting at almost 1,500 metres in Gualtallary, it’s a high-altitude site that has been sliced and diced by the Catena Institute to find the specific "parcelas" that produce world-class Malbec. The Fortuna Terrae (luck of the land) parcel is defined by its deep loamy soils and the native grasses that grow between the vines.

The 2022 vintage was crafted by Argentina's most iconic winemaker, Alejandro Vigil - often called the "Messi of Wine" - who leans into the site's natural freshness. The winemaking is highly detailed: up to 80% whole cluster fermentation and a long cold soak to pin down those delicate aromatics. It’s aged for over a year in massive, 10-year-old 2,200L French oak foudres, a move that allows the wine to breathe and develop without being smothered by new wood.

The result is a Malbec that trades raw power for elegance and tension. It’s incredibly aromatic, showing spicy black fruit and distinct floral notes that are a hallmark of the high-altitude Adrianna site. The palate is rounded and smooth, but the acidity from the deep soils gives it a racy, energetic edge. It’s an elite, site-specific wine that’s drinking beautifully now but has the stuffing to evolve for decades.

98 points
"Deep brooding nose with a touch of cocoa powder to the deep, fresh blueberries, chiles and chocolate. Impeccable chalky tannins confer structure and resolve. Full-bodied but super fresh and bright, with a long, long finish. Need two or three years at least to let complexity come through."
- Zekun Shuai (James Suckling)

96+ points
"The 2022 Adrianna Vineyard Malbec Fortuna Terrae is pure, floral, herbal and elegant on the nose, followed by a svelte, soft and richly textured palate enlivened with an increasingly electric core of acidity... This is a fantastic cornerstone of the upper echelon of Catena Zapata Malbecs..."
- Matthew Luczy (The Wine Advocate)