Vinunics Viner

Nicolas Catena har utsetts till Man of the year i vintidningen Decanter. Utmärkelsen är utan tvekan den mest prestigefyllda för en enskild person inom vinvärlden. Enligt Steven Spurrier, Decanter Consultant Editor, är Catenas viner en ledstjärna för andra vinmakare i Argentina när det gäller kvalité, och man har varit det från den första början, genom passion, förutseende och kulturellt engagemang av Nicolas Catena. Och Catena är fortfarande det ledande företaget.!

Nicolas Catena och hans dotter Laura

Välförtjänt tycker vi som har följt Catena genom åren. Vi glömmer till exempel aldrig det förvånade samtalet från en av våra importörskollegor, som hade smugit in vinet Nicolas Catena Zapata 1997 i en provning med toppviner från Kalifornien, Italien och Bordeaux för att bevisa att deras Kaliforniska viner var överlägsna andra Cabernet Sauvignonbaserade viner. Vinnare i denna högklassiga provning var det argentinska vinet 1997 Nicolas Catena Zapata och kollegan i branschen var minst sagt förvånad!

Just nu finns några högklassiga viner i sortimentet från Catena som ger bra valuta för pengarna:

74169 Catena Alta Chardonnay 2005, 215 kr

92 poäng av The Wine Advocate, Robert Parker

"The 2005 Alta Chardonnay comes from the Adrianna Vineyard at 4850 feet of elevation. It is 100% barrel-fermented using natural yeasts and went through full malolactic fermentation. It was aged sur-lie for 12 months in 60% new French oak. Light to medium gold in color, it has a distinguished aromatic profile of mineral, white flowers, toast, vanilla, apple, and poached pear. This is followed by a medium-bodied, concentrated, layered Chardonnay with flavors of fig and citrus also emerging on the palate. The wine has great balance and should evolve for another 2-3 years. It should age in the manner of a top-level white Burgundy and provide pleasure through 2014."

96188 Catena Alta Cabernet Sauvignon 2004, 275 kr

93 poäng av The Wine Advocate, Robert Parker

"The 2004 Alta Cabernet Sauvignon was sourced and blended from three vineyards with distinct terroirs and aged for 18 months in new French oak. It offers greater aromatic complexity with elements of pain grille, scorched earth, espresso, black currant, and blackberry liqueur. Medium-bodied, it has the elegance of a classified growth St.-Julien, with intense, spicy, cassis, mint, and black fruit flavors, superb balance, and a 45-second, pure finish. It will profit from 6-8 years of further cellaring and drink well through 2030."

77712 Catena Alta Malbec 2004, 299 kr

94 poäng av The Wine Advocate, Robert Parker

"The 2004 Alta Malbec was aged for 18 months in French oak, 70% new, and was also bottled unfined and unfiltered. It offers greater aromatic complexity with notes of pepper, clove, leather, and chocolate in addition to violets, black cherry, and blackberry. Medium-bodied and elegant, it has a plush texture, layers of spicy black fruits and minerality, excellent balance, and a 60-second finish. It will evolve for 5-7 years and drink well through 2025."

På tal om Robert Parker och The Wine Advocate, så beskriver de Catena så här på erobertparker.com: "When all is said and done, Catena Zapata is the Argentina winery of reference - the standard of excellence for comparing all others. The brilliant, forward-thinking Nicolas Catena remains in charge, with his daughter, Laura, playing an increasingly large role."

För privatimport och restaurang finns mindre volymer av:

* Nicolas Catena Zapata 2003, 550 kronor vid privatimport

Ej bedömd av Parker

* Nicolas Catena Zapata 2004, 650 kronor vid privatimport

98 poäng av The Wine Advocate, Robert Parker

"Catena Zapata's flagship is the Nicolas Catena Zapata, a Cabernet Sauvignon-Malbec blend. The 2004 Nicolas Catena Zapata is composed of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon and 28% Malbec. It spent 18 months in 100% new French oak. A saturated black purple in color, it has an aristocratic perfume of pain grille, mineral, espresso, saddle leather, cassis, black currant, and black raspberry. Opulently textured, complex, ripe, and sweet on the palate, it maintains a sense of elegance as well as power. It demands 10-15 years of further cellaring and should still be providing pleasure at age 50. It strikes me as being Argentina's equivalent of a great vintage of Lafite-Rothschild."

* Catena Zapata Malbec Nicasia 2004, 450 kronor vid privatimport

98 poäng av The Wine Advocate, Robert Parker

"The single-vineyard 2004 Malbec "Nicasia Vineyard" is located in the Altamira district of Mendoza. It was aged for 18 months in new French oak. Opaque purple-colored, it exhibits a complex perfume of pain grille, scorched earth, mineral, licorice, blueberry, and black cherry. Thick on the palate, bordering on opulent, it has layers of fruit, silky tannins, and a long, fruit-filled finish. It will age effortlessly for another 6-8 years and provide pleasure through 2025."

* Catena Zapata Malbec Adriana 2004, 450 kronor vid privatimport

97 poäng av The Wine Advocate, Robert Parker

"The single-vineyard 2004 Malbec "Adrianna Vineyard" from the Gualtallary district is inky purple with aromas of wood smoke, pencil lead, game, black cherry, and blackberry liqueur. Opulent, full-flavored, yet remarkably light on its feet, this medium to full-bodied Malbec is all about pleasure. It will certainly evolve for a decade but is hard to resist now. It is a fine test of one's ability to defer immediate gratification."