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Catena Zapata Catena Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Bodega Catena Zapata

I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Laura Catena last year for an article that charted the research she’s doing at the Catena Institute in studying the effects of high elevation on indigenous varieties and on international varieties like Cabernet. Of course, it’s great fun to taste a wine like this after such a rousing […]

Santa Julia Tintillo Malbec-Bonarda 2016

Santa Julia Tintillo Malbec-Bonarda 2016

The 2016 Santa Julia Tintillo, a blend of both Malbec and Bonarda is awash in plums, black cherries, cedar and bay leaf. For those of you who have yet to try Bonarda, it’s safe to say that this Piedmontese grape is as happy-go-lucky as the average golden retriever. Certainly, this amiable bottle is crammed with […]

Seed Red Wine 2015

Seed Red Wine 2015

May 28, 2017—Bottle No. 0226 of a 120 case lot from this ultra-boutique winery, Seed. I first tasted this bottling six months ago, when it was still fairly closed—the profile remains unchanged—a heady melange of singed blueberries, black currants, sandalwood, and violets. It has the kind of lightness to it that one would expect from […]

Bodega Catena Zapata Chardonnay High Mountain Vines 2015

Bodega Catena Zapata Chardonnay High Mountain Vines 2015

Catena’s High Mountain Vines Chardonnay is sourced from three vineyard sites, ranging from 3,100-4,757′ in altitude, hence the name. The soils are predominantly gravelly or stony, and all of these sites are cool climate—these factors are reflected in the profile of this fresh and restrained Argentine Chard. Acacia honey, lemon blossom, pear and citrus round […]

Seed Malbec 2015

Seed Malbec 2015

Beautifully delineated, the 2015 Seed Malbec is a small lot single-vineyard wine that is aged for 16 months in new French oak and, I’m happy to report, has a long life ahead of it. At this stage in its development, the nose is quite primary and is heavily laden in fresh blackberries, plums, and macerated […]

Research and Resilience at High Altitude

Dr. Laura Catena

What one Argentine winery is doing to combat climate change. Climate change is everywhere, according to Dr. Laura Catena, and tackling these problems is a race, “We need to look at life at all levels, using science to preserve nature and culture, and we don’t have much time.” I recently had the opportunity to talk […]

Bodega Catena Zapata Cabernet Sauvignon High Mountain Vines 2014

Bodega Catena Zapata Cabernet Sauvignon High Mountain Vines 2014

Bodega Catena Zapata Cabernet Sauvignon High Mountain Vines 2014″ width=”200″ height=”200″ /></a>I received a selection of Catena wines following an interview with Dr. Laura Catena (to her credit, she’s an amazing person and a part time ER doc). Her 2014 High Mountain Vines Cabernet displays glorious aromas of black currant, anise, mocha, exotic spice, and […]

White before Red: An Interview with Winemaker Giuseppe Franceschini

Tony Hartl & Giuseppe Franceschini

Born in Padua, winemaker Giuseppe Franceschini likes to think of himself as a gypsy. He studied enology at the University of Udine, following graduation, his wanderlust and curiosity led him to Veneto, Friuli, Sicily, Mendoza and most recently, Slovenia. From these experiences, Giuseppe absorbed a lifetime of regional winemaking styles, each with unique challenges and […]

Bodega Septima Malbec 2014

Bodega Septima Malbec 2014

Better on the second day, as the Septima 2014 Malbec felt tight on opening. Today, more generous notes of warm blackberries at peak ripeness, plums, boysenberries, dried violets and black licorice. The attack shows tart, high acidity, this wine begs to be paired with a grilled, well-marbled steak. The tannins linger under the acidity, a […]

Seed Paraje Altamira Malbec 2014

Seed Paraje Altamira Malbec 2014

Luscious steeped blackberries, marionberries, and dusky Italian plums lie well beneath lighter, more enigmatic aromas of violets, dust, and dark chocolate shavings. Seed’s 2014 Paraje Altamira Malbec is mulberry-hued at the rim, and deliciously fresh. The nose echoes the palate, with saturating black fruit at the core, neatly hemmed in by mouth-coating, ripe tannins. It’s […]

CHRISTINE HAVENS
McMinnville, OR

christine@christine-havens.com