Catena, Malbec, 2002

From the bottle, Catena Malbec is grown from berries in the Mendoza region of Argentina and is 13.8% alcohol by volume.

Where did I find it: N/A

What did I pair it with: Good company and the city lights of Phoenix

Appearance: A dark purple, with heavier legs than the Los Cardos.

Smell: Very barnyard and soil notes

Taste: Sour cherry tannins, raisiny character, and a quick, almost reverse finish

Price: $20

Quality rating: 86/100

Value rating: 45.50/60

Takeaway: At the same rating as the 2002 Los Cardos Malbec, the decision on which to buy should be rather simple. Coupled with the even better quality of the 2003/2004 vintages, it becomes even more obvious. For the money, Catena doesn’t quite stack up, but if you have this wine already, drink up, you won’t be disappointed.