AMANCAYA - Catena Zapata & Rothschild 2020 - 75cl

Amancaya, like its older brother, presents a harmonious balance between the Argentine and Bordeaux styles. 

The wine is more fruity due to the higher percentage of Malbec and shorter ageing. 

The word AMANCAYA is the native Indian name of a flower found at high altitudes in the Andes in the Mendoza area.

The idea of a partnership between the Rothschild and the Catena families was born in 1999. 

The Catena family has been producing wines for four generations, their vast knowledge of the high altitude terroirs of Mendoza has ranked them amongst Argentina’s most renowned Malbec producers. 

With Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) unparalleled know-how in producing great Cabernet Sauvignon, their aim is to produce a wine combining French and Argentinian cultures and the two signature grapes of both families.

Nestled at the foothills of the snowcapped Andes mountains, Mendoza is known as the best wine producing region in Argentina. 

With vines planted on high plateaux between 800 and 1200m above sea level, Mendoza's vineyards are known as the highest in the world. 

Sheltered from the rain by the mountains to the West and the Pampa to the East, the region is very arid. Mendoza wines draw their character from an exceptional sun exposure and wide temperature variations between night and day.

Terroir 

Amancaya is the Quechua name of an endemic flower of the Andes found in the Mendoza area. 

Grapes are sourced from selected plots of old vines in Lujan de Cuyo just outside Mendoza, and also from Altamira, further South. 

In Lujan, soils are quite varied depending on how close vineyards are to the mountains or Mendoza River, and tend to form alluvial layers of loam, rock, and gravel. 

In Altamira, vineyards are planted at 1000m above sea level, on the ancient alluvial bed of the Tunuyan River.