2011: A cool vintage, late by 2-3 weeks. Dry. Severe frosts in both Lujan de Cuyo and the Southern Uco Valley. The frost affected the Angelica Sur Vineyard in Eugenio Bustos with a loss of 75% of the harvest in this vineyard. Overall yields were moderate, except in frost-affected areas. Extremely well balanced and concentrated wines with optimal acidity.

2010: A small cool vintage, late by 2 weeks. Yields were down on average 30% due to Zonda winds during set. Severe frost in La Consulta which partly affected the Nicasia vineyard. Rich wines with firm tannins – very age-worthy.

2009: Even temperatures with abundant rain in spring which led to healthy canopies and good set. Harvest was early by about 10 days. Intensely aromatic wines with velvety tannins.

2008: The season started warm and ended cold. Normal harvest times. Therewere significant hail storms which affected many areas – the onlyaffected vineyard for Catena was the La Piramide vineyard in Agrelo – the old cabernet sauvignon that goes into the Nicolas Catena Zapta was spared by hail netting. Elegant wines with optimal balance.

2007: Warm days and Cool nights leading to an early harvest by 2-4 weeks. 2007 was a particularly strong vintage for cooler climate vineyards in the Uco Valley such as Adrianna and Nicasia. A violent hail storm hit Lujan de Cuyo but did not affect the Catena vineyards.

2006: There was abundant snow in the winter of 2005 leading to plentiful snow in the Andes. Abundant water and mild weather resulted in an excellent set and relatively high yields. We dropped fruit in all the Catena vineyards reducing yields by 70-20%. Aromatic wines with smooth tannins – drinking well now.

2005: A cool vintage with generally low yields. There was a severe frost in the Uco Valley and La Consulta which affected part of the Nicasia Vineyard. The wines are extremely concentrated with ripe tannins and optimal natural acidity. Ageworthy.

2004: A generally warm vintage. Harvest was delayed by 1 week. This was a happy vintage with even ripening and no significant rain, hail or frost. The wines are very aromatic with rich and velvety tannins. Particularly strong for very cool climate vineyards like Adrianna (Gualtallary) and Nicasia (La Consulta).

2003: The vintage started warm with an even set, but then became quite cold.Although there was almost no summer rain, there was abundant irrigation water from the snow in the Andes so canopies were healthy. This vintage was particularly strong for Cabernet Sauvignon.

2002: This was a very even year with no temperature extremes, the usual scattered rains in February and a cool, dry march and april. The Malbec had a long hang-time which led to optimal ripening and some very expressive malbecs with soft and rich tannins.

2001: The vintage started very well with moderate spring temperatures and an absence of frost. There was dry and warm weather until mid march. At the end of march there were scattered rain-storms which produced some botrytis in clay-soil areas. For those who had patience and harvested a few weeks after the rains it was a phenomenal vintage.

2000: Very cold winter and spring with uneven set which led to very low yields. The rest of the summer was warm and even resulting in extraordinary concentration and balance. Ageworthy.

1999: Frosts in late spring caused damage in some regions but did not affect the Catena vineyards. A warm and dry vintage, with very cold nights which facilitated slow and even ripening. Expressive aromatics and grainy tannins – Ageworthy.

1998: A catastrophic vintage affected by continuous rains from the El Niño weather phenomenon. The harvest happened early due to beginnings of botrytis. An atypical harvest for Mendoza. None of the Catena or Catena Zapata wines were made. The wine was sold in lower priced brands owned by the family.

1997: A very cold winter with abundant snow – there was a healthy amount of water in the streams and underground aquifers. The spring and summer saw warm temperatures with little rain. The harvest ended abruptly on the second week of april due to an early frost. An exceptional cabernet sauvignon year, especially in the La Piramide Vineyard.

1996: A slightly humid and moderate spring, gave rise to an even and uniform fruit set and healthy canopies. A cooling off in February and March allowed for late ripening of the Catena Malbec in the Angelica Vineyard of Lunlunta. Rich and concentrated tannins, good natural acidity and expressive aromatics. An extraordinary year, especially for Malbec.

1995: an early November frost reduced yields throughout the Lujan de Cuyo region. Most vineyards recovered and what was harvested was extremely concentrated and complex. A particularly strong Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon vintage.

1994: A typical year with no zonda winds, a warm spring and a good set. There were some rains in January which simply reduced the need for irrigation. The harvest, in march, april and may was long and plentiful. The Malbecs are particularly strong with rich and smooth tannins. Drink now.

1993: A somewhat difficult harvest that started with a good set but was complicated by significant rains in January, February and March. There was some botrytis in whites and reds. Aromatic wines. Early drinking.

1992: A cool year with some significant hail storms in Maipu and Lujan de Cuyo. The Catena vineyard in Agrelo – La Piramide – was not affected and the quality of the chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon was extraordinary. Drink now.

1991: A very cold and long winter delayed bud-break and reduced yields in general. Warm days and very cool nights due to the dry weather. The harvest was late by one week. Good quality cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay. Drink now.

1990: A fairly typical year with relatively cool temperatures and rains in February which caused some problems for the early ripening white varietals. The rest of the summer was very dry and all the reds were harvested with fully ripe and developed tannins. Drink now and for another decade.