100% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from the lime, clay soil of Lot 3 in the La Pirámide vineyard. The 1996 growing season in the Agrelo district saw fairly extreme temperature conditions in March, with warmer than usual days, averaging 20.8° C, and colder than usual nights, averaging 12.8° C. The warmer conditions meant a full bodied, highly concentrated wine with the added complexity and length afforded by the cool night time temperatures. This vintage can be enjoyed now and will continue to improve over the next 4 to 6 years.

The grapes for Catena Alta Cabernet Sauvignon come from a select block of La Pirámide vineyard, Catena's premier Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard. At more than 940m (3,100') elevation, the La Pirámide vineyard enjoys a continental climate of sunny days and cool nights, allowing for prolonged hang-time and crisp acidity in the grapes. The Catena Alta block has historically provided the most balanced and uniform yields. The carefully chosen vines undergo a detailed thinning process to leave only select, isolated clusters on the vines to ripen fully.