2018 Catena Zapata Adrianna Mundus Bacillus Terrae Malbec, Mendoza

The 2018 Adrianna Vineyard Mundus Bacillus Terrae started with a marked creamy and lactic note, reflecting a very young and tender wine that started with a lot of malic acid. It has lower alcohol and higher acidity than the other two Adrianna bottlings; it's vibrant and lively, nicely textured and surprisingly fresh. The creamy and lactic note disappeared after some time in the glass, giving way to fresher notes, almost citrus. They have also done a selection of individual plants, discarding some plants in lower parts, and the wine has gained in precision and freshness. They used a high percentage of full clusters and fermented it in concrete with indigenous yeasts and matured it in used oak barrels for 18 months. In 2018, the three Adrianna bottlings have more defined character; the differences are more marked than in a year like 2017. This has to be among the finest vintages for the Mundus Bacillus Terrae. 4,800 bottles were filled in November 2019.

98 points Luis Gutierrez robertparker.com

This is a really deep, decadent red, showing incredibly rich black soil, black olives and violets. Full body and rich tannins that exude power and intensity. Lots of white pepper and black fruit in the aftertaste. Extremely persistent. This is a bottle for the cellar. Try after 2024.

98 points jamessuckling.com

Mundus Bacillus Terrae is a parcel of Malbec whose name pays homage to the rhizobacteria that live in symbiosis with the vines at 1,450 meters in the Adrianna vineyard. Three-quarters of the wine is fermented in concrete and the rest in foudres, followed by 18 months in French oak. The nose features violets and lavender with subdued notes of red fruit, but the wine only properly comes out in the mouth. It is pure texture with nervous tension and ripe but gentle, very Malbec-ish tannins that don’t impede the flow. The magic of this wine lies in its uniqueness, both in terms of style and as an approach to the variety. It is the questions it raises that make it truly compelling.

 97 points Joaquín Hidalgo vinous.com

From the high altitude Adrianna Vineyard in Gualtallary, this Malbec is one of Catena Zapata’s most site expressive and cerebral wines, shaped by extreme elevation and ancient calcareous soils. The Mundus Bacillus Terrae parcel is defined by limestone rich soils teeming with native microorganisms, which Catena has long studied for their impact on vine health, flavour development and mineral expression. This bottling is all about precision, structure and terroir transparency, showing a more mineral, savoury and tightly coiled side of Malbec compared to broader, fruit driven styles.

The colour is deep, inky violet with remarkable intensity. Aromas are layered and complex, revealing black plum, blackberry and dark cherry, followed by violets, graphite, cocoa and crushed rock. The palate is powerful yet finely tuned, with dense dark fruit wrapped in firm, chalky tannins and a bright acid line that gives drive and length. There is a pronounced mineral core and savoury edge that build through the finish, giving the wine both authority and elegance. Exceptional with grilled steak, lamb, rich beef dishes and aged hard cheeses. Built for serious cellaring, it will evolve beautifully for fifteen to twenty five years, gaining greater savoury, truffle and earthy complexity while retaining its structural backbone.