Angelica Vineyard: aluvial origin. Loamy clay in the topsoil with rounded rocks on the bottom. La Piramide Vineyard: aluvial origin. Clay topsoil with rounded rocks on the bottom

Ripe plum flavors, silkiness and good volume on the palate. Black berry fruit and spicy notes of black pepper and clove. The result is a complex wine of intense flavors that linger on a long, velvety finish.

12-14 months in French oak

Low yields due to moderate frosts in the UCO Valley, an early harvest, and perfect balance. Laura Catena’s favorite vintage since 1995. After Harvest 2016, the smallest and coldest in three decades thanks to El Niño, Mendoza's wine producers were mourning their empty wineries and hoping for a big crop.

But only Mother Nature gets to decide, and in 2017 we had another year of small yields—especially in the UCO Valley where most of our family’s vineyards are located. Spring frosts brought on by dryer and slightly cooler weather resulted in lower yields, and the UCO Valley Malbec was down 55%.