91 Points - Falstaff. The Catena Appellation La Consulta Malbec 2019 isnt just one of Perfect Cellars best Argentinean red wine buys, its one of the best wine buys on our entire list. The Catena family are known for their pioneering work in high-altitude viticulture in Argentina and the Appellation La Consulta Malbec 2019 showcases the beauty of such wines perfectly. Produced from Malbec grapes sourced from the La Consulta region of Uco Valley, Mendoza, it manages to combine a huge weight of concentrated black fruits with freshness and elegance. High-altitude wines are all about freshness and complexity and to preserve this the La Consulta is given a brief time in oak to allow its natural beauty to shine through. Still a mighty mouthful of Malbec, theres delicacy and nuance here too.

Vivino Rating: 4.1 (Oct 2024)

Wine Press Ratings

91 Points - Falstaff (2019 Vintage)

"Restrained and fresh, with notes of blackberries, red plum, pencil lead and touches of sappy herbs. Sweet-fruited and welcoming on the palate, with the soft caress of fully ripe tannins."

91 Points - Descorchados

"La Consulta, in the Uco Valley, is sort of an intermediate territory (in terms of flavors) between the mountain malbecs higher up in the Andes and those further down on the north side of the Mendoza River and closer to the city of Mendoza. It's a warm area where the heat is expressed in tones of ripe red and black fruits, although they are accompanied by the piercing acidity characteristic of new school Uco malbec."

Taste

Beautifully deep purple in colour, the Catena Appellation La Consulta Malbec 2019 offers aromas of blackberry, black cherry, and dark chocolate, with a lift of flowers. On the palate, its full-bodied and flavourful, but with a fresh edge that adds refinement. Flavours of blackberries, blackcurrants, cherries, blueberries, charcoal and dried herbs are corralled by tangy red berries and crunchy minerals. Smooth as silk, rich as cream, its a glorious glass-full that makes the perfect partner to a fine beef steak, coq au vin, or a cheeseboard.

About the Producer

Catena has become a byword for Argentinean wine brilliance. Founded in 1902 and now run by Dr. Laura Catena, it has helped make Malbec Argentinas signature grape.  Pioneers from the start, Nicolas Cantenas belief in high altitude viniculture has given birth to an entirely new style of Malbec wines, ones that are as refined as a Classed Growth Bordeaux , but which retain that Latin flair that makes Argentinean Malbec so popular. Their estate is made up of six vineyards in the Luján de Cuyo, Tupungato and San Carlos sub-regions of Mendoza, at altitudes ranging from 3,000 to an ear-popping 4,750 feet (920 to 1450 meters) above sea level. Quality is all that matters here, and from their entry-level wines such as the Catena Appellation La Consulta Malbec 2019 to the rare Catena Zapata Malbec Argentino, their obsession with excellence shines through.