Throughout the 2020 growing season, the Mendoza-Uco Valley experienced dry and warm weather; however, cooler nighttime temperatures helped keep acidity at a moderate level. The “Adrianna Vineyard Mundus Bacillus Terrae 2020” from Catena Zapata, made from grapes harvested on plots with high limestone content at an elevation of over 1,450 meters above sea level, is a rich yet light Malbec. Compared to vintages released in warmer years, this wine offers a more restrained flavor profile with pronounced minerality, clearly reflecting the character inherent in the limestone soils of the “Adrianna” vineyard. This 2020 vintage wine has a robust structure and was crafted with long-term aging in mind.
Robert Parker (97)
Tasting the 2020 Adrianna Vineyard Mundus Bacillus Terrae next to the 2019 showed a different aromatic profile of darker fruit, denoting ripeness and sun. The wine was still very young with a luxurious, creamy texture and mouthfeel. 2020 was an extremely dry year (70% lower than the average with just 282 liters!), and the grapes were picked two to three weeks earlier. It has a bright, saturated color and a heady nose with ripe berries and a spicy, smoky twist from 19 months in oak vats. It's medium to full bodied, with a soft texture and velvety tannins, sleek and seamless. 5,700 bottles produced. It was bottled in November 2021.
James Suckling (97)
Fascinating nose of blue flowers, blueberries, sea shells, moss and lemon grass. It’s medium-bodied with ultra-fine, silky tannins. So fresh and elegant with bright, saline character. Still a little reserved. Try after 2024.
Falstaff (97)
Deep dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections, subtle brightening on the rim. On the nose, dark fruits of the forest, blackberries, tart cherries, floral nuances, rose petals, nougat, subtle hints of oak and herbal savouriness. Taut and tightly meshed on the palate, chocolate notes and pleasant fruit expression, plums, vivid, supporting tannins, and a mineral finish. A straightforward, seamless style.
