2022 Catena Zapata Adrianna Fortuna Terrae Malbec, Mendoza

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. 100% whole cluster. Drink from 2027.

98 point Zekun Shuai James Suckling, February 2024

The 2022 Malbec Adrianna Vineyard Fortuna Terrae was planted in 1992 at 1,340 meters above sea level on calcareous soils. Purple in hue, it features intense aromas of blackberry, plum and lavender, alongside notes of licorice. Dry and juicy, the compact palate is enhanced by elevated acidity, creating a balanced mouthfeel that lingers with floral and blackberry tones. The overall aesthetic is slightly raw with a chalky nuance, delivering delicate yet intense flavors. Fortuna Terrae embodies the character of a high-elevation Malbec. Drink 2026-2046.

97 points Joaquín Hidalgo Vinous, November 2024

Nicolás Catena Zapata planted the Adrianna vineyard in Gualtallary (in Tupungato Alto of Uco Valley) with a single goal in mind: to find the coolest location for growing vines in Mendoza.  Over the next few years the wines consistently proved to have more minerality and more acidity than wines from other sites in the Southern Uco Valley at lower altitudes—sites such as Altamira, La Consulta and Eugenio Bustos.

Much of the difference lies in the hours of sunlight and in the brightness of the sun, which permits photosynthesis to run freely and ripen aromas and tannins, while the cool climate allows the vines to preserve acids and keep the sugars in check. In the lower-altitude areas of Mendoza in the East, most musts need to be acidified, but the natural grape acidities at Adrianna are optimal, and no additives are necessary to balance wines. Because of the slow ripening in cooler climate, fully mature tannins can be achieved with brixes below 24 and resulting alcohols in the 13% range.

Fortuna Terrae means luck of the land in Latin. It has deep loamy soils of alluvial origin with limestone. Because of the freshness imparted by the deep soils and high altitude, the wines of Fortuna Terrae have optimal acidity and delicate flower aromas. It is best to enjoy this wine a few years or decades after harvest.

This wine goes through an extensive cold maceration (60% to 80% Whole Cluster) of 3-7 days at less than 10ºC to extract aromas. The juice is then fermented for around 10-19 days with a total maceration of approximately 8-12 days. Refinement for 14-18 months takes place in French Oak barrel (10+ years old 2200L foudres).