Malbec 2017

LUCA

Malbec
2017

  • Sustainable
Country
Argentina
Regulated designation
Geographical Indication (GI)
Region
Mendoza
Varietal(s)
Malbec 100 %
Alcohol percentage
13.9%
Colour
Red
Sugar
Dry
Sugar content
4,7 g/l
Aging vessel type
12 months in 30% new French oak & 70% second use French oak barrels
Producer's website

About this winery

Laura Catena, daughter of famous Argentine wine pioneer, Nicolas Catena, was born in Buenos Aires. At the age of 14, her family moved to Berkeley, California where her father had taken a teaching position in the Economics Department. Laura went on to attend Harvard University, where she graduated magna cum laude in biology, and then she returned to the west coast, to Stanford University, to pursue a medical degree graduating in 1992. Today, Laura Catena is a practicing emergency-room physician....

See the LUCA detail page for more information on this brand

Product notes

Laura Catena is a 4th generation Malbec grower. With Luca, Laura pioneered grower relations in Mendoza and discovered many small old vine Malbec vineyards that were previously going into bulk wine. The Luca team works with some of the best family vineyards in the Uco Valley to make this rich and dense example of Malbec.

Tasting notes

Incredible deep purple red color. Loads of spice and black and red cherry aromas with notes of chocolate. The berry flavors really pop on the palate as the wine has both a full mid palate and lively acidity that leads to an incredibly long finish. A bottom note of freshly brewed espresso keeps the mouth watering too. This one is a teenager at the moment, and should age very well,

Press reviews

James Suckling

- 95 points -

August 2023

Another generously plush and polished malbec is from Laura Catena’s winery, Luca: the Luca Malbec Valle de Uco Old Vine 2019. Catena, who is also managing director of her family’s Bodega Catena Zapata, was the first to bottle old-vine malbec in Argentina, and fruit for this wine comes from vines with an average age of over 50 years, planted throughout Mendoza’s Uco Valley. It’s deep and intense and will mellow with more time in the cellar.

See detailed press review
Tim Atkin

- 95 points -

Tim Atkin, (Vintage 2018)

Ce malbec renversant assemble le fruit des deux meilleures appellations de la vallée d'Uco : Paraje Altamira et Gualtallary. Un vin rouge capiteux, aromatique et merveilleusement bien équilibré aux notes de tangerine, de fenouil et de mûre soutenues par des tanins en filigrane et des notes boisées élégantes.

See detailed press review
James Suckling

- 94 points -

James Suckling, February 2020 (Vintage 2018)

Blueberries and black tea with volcanic salt and violets on the nose and palate Medium to full body and fine, silky tannins. Savory finish. Drink or hold.

See detailed press review
 Wine Enthusiast

- 93 points -

4 / 100

December 2020 (Vintage 2018)

Numéro 4 sur le Top 100 du Wine Enthusiast 2020

See detailed press review
Wine Advocate

- 92 points -

Luis Gutiérrez, October 2019 (Vintage 2018)

The 2018 Old Vine Malbec comes from vineyards in La Consulta and Gualtallary, both in the Uco Valley in Mendoza. It's a floral, juicy and expressive bottling with nicely integrated oak, fine and round tannins and some finesse. 156,000 bottles.

See detailed press review
Vinous

- 91 points -

Joaquín Hidalgo, October 2020 (Vintage 2018)

A Malbec made from a combination of grapes from the Uco Valley that spent 14 months aging in French barrels, 35% of them new. Remarkably purple in the glass. The delicate, fruity nose ranges from sour cherry to blackberry with hints of syrup and mint. A very interesting wine, it is sugary but presents a firm, fleshy palate, tacky tannins and a juicy flow with a pleasantly contained freshness. The finish is long and flavorful and followed by a teasing aftertaste.

See detailed press review
Top 100 Wine Enthusiast

4/100

2020 (Vintage 2018)

Concentrated black-fruit aromas alongside hints of cardamom and coriander open this lush Malbec. Blackberry, cassis and dark plum flavors are pure and agile on the palate. Enjoy through 2024. 

See detailed press review