• • CS
  • 12 March 2013
  4 out of 5

  Good value and safe choice for Malbec fans

  Returned from one month in Argentina early January and this is definitely good value for money as Malbec in the UK are so pricey. Catena are good producers of Malbec Love the dark berry flavours and not too tannic so perfect for meat either steak lamb or even spare ribs we had it with last weekend, perfect! Can't wait to drink the second bottle! It might actually be a bit too young so probably good to store a bit! which I am not very good at!

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• • DimiFirefly
  • 22 December 2009
  4 out of 5

  Still Young and Tannic..

  ...But could deliver if cellared in good conditions for 3/7 years. This wine is 100% Malbec from various altitudes and that makes it interesting. It needs breathing so open one hour before drinking and pour some in your glass straight away to help the oxygenation process. I found it quite tannic and lacking a bit of structure but think it might develop more rounded flavours with a bit of cellaring. As it is new world it is quite fruity but with a strong tannic base and the finish is a bit acidic and short. If you have a cellar then I'd take a chance but if you want to enjoy now then get a Ben Marco. Or even get both and compare yourself! :-) Enjoy!

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• • Von Braun
  • 23 December 2011
  4 out of 5

  Good Value

  I'm a big fan of Argentine wine and this is good value. I've paid more for Malbec and got much less. I'm not sure this vintage is quite as good as the 2007 (sadly now all gone from my stocks) but not far off. I have found it responds well to a good 4-5 hours breathing time to soften the tannins a la Barolo (in fact I've occasionally opened some harder Barolos 12 hours before drinking).....it can take it.

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• • BT
  • 1 April 2011
  3 out of 5

  Acceptable but not great

  I was expecting something a little richer, more distinctive. For my money, the Churchills Douro is a much better bet in this price bracket.

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• • Four Heatons
  • 28 November 2010
  4 out of 5

  Re-visited

  Friends introduced us to Malbec, often pricey restaurant offerings that we found freshly opened sharp on the pallet and unpleasantly spicey. This however warmed and decanted we found smooth and rewarding with slight Rhone-ish overtones? A treat under a tenner.

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• • AJB
  • 5 October 2009
  4 out of 5

  New World Old World Style

  You'd think this is a European wine if you didn't know better. It's a complex grown up wine which needs serious appreciation. May be needs another year or two before I can give it a full 5 stars......

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Staff Reviews

• • Claire Ferguson
  • Manager, Majestic Ealing

  "My mighty malbec is the Catena Malbec from the Mendoza region. The Catena family have been very successful in identifying the best vineyard sites in this high-altitude wine-growing region and this wine is a blend of grapes from several different altitudes which gives the wine a unique and complex flavour and aroma profile. Ripe berry fruit flavours from the lower altitudes are balanced with a solid tannin structure and refreshing acidity from the higher altitudes and a large dose of peppery spice thrown in for good measure. I love drinking this with peppered steak or lamb and a glass on it's own afterwards!"

Press Reviews

• • www.timatkin.com

  This may be the best mid-priced Malbec yet from Argentina's leading producer.

  "It's perfumed and stylish, with notes of violets and fresh plums on the nose, followed by ripe, but not over-ripe blackberry fruit, subtle vanilla oak, textured, grainy tannins and refreshing minerality and zip. The oak is better integrated than in previous releases and there's welcome finesse here. Great now, but will develop in the bottle for another three to five years. (Tim Atkin, www.timatkin.com, 16th July 2012)"

• • Financial Times

  Such sophistication and class! (2010 Vintage)

  "Such a contrast to more souped-up examples. Lovely fluidity and freshness. Fully ripe, glossy fruit but not artificially sweet, nor aggressively potent. I know I have already recommended other vintages of this wine in the past but quality just cannot be ignored.13.9%. (Jancis Robinson, The Financial Times, 14th July 2012)"