Winemaker Notes
"Great aromas of crushed blueberry and
raspberry, with a juicy texture and well integrated toast and mineral notes. Nice
blast of pure fruit on the finish."
-Wine Spectator
The grapes for this wine are sourced from the Altamira, La Pirámide and Angelica vineyards. The soil in these vineyards consists of sand and shallow clay, over a stony subsoil. Ideal soil and climate conditions, together with meticulous pruning, irrigation and canopy management produce low yeilds of small berries with very concentrated fruit flavors.
In years past, Catena has taken pride in the single vineyard designation of the wines they produce. The grapes for the Catena wines are sourced from several vineyard sites and then blended together in the final product. For over 20 years, Nicolas Catena and his winemaking team have planted countless numbers of varietals and clones throughout their mountainous vineyard sites. Each vineyard site enjoys its own soil variations and microclimates. Nicolas and his team have carefully studied the effects of these microclimates on the grapes from each vineyard. They descovered that the same varietal, and even the same clone, presents truly distinct aromatic and flavor characteristics when grown in different microclimates. Implementing the age-old "art of assemblage," Nicolas found that by blending different lots of the same varietal, he could create a more intense and complex wine. As great artists tap their creative spirit to mix and match colors for a final work of art, the team at Bodega Catena Zapata use their creativity in the intricate process of blending grapes in order to craft the final wine.
Professional Ratings
Bodega Catena Zapata is one of Argentina's high-altitude Malbec pioneers. The Catena family began making wine in Mendoza in 1902. Nicolas Catena, third generation family vintner, was one of the first to see the potential of Mendoza's mountain vineyards for producing high quality Malbec. In 1994, he became the first Argentine to export a world-class bottling of Malbec under the Catena label. Nicolas is joined by his daughter, Dr. Laura Catena, in their relentless pursuit of world-class quality from the family's high-altitude vineyards. Laura has done extensive work in introducing Malbec and other varietal plant selections, soil and climate analysis, and sustainable practices throughout Mendoza. Head winemaker, Alejandro Vigil, has been at Catena Zapata since 2002 and works with Laura and Nicolas to make wines that express the family's vineyards and palate.
Most distinguished and celebrated from Argentina’s Mendoza, Malbec has seen runaway success since the early 2000s. Mendoza’s agreeable, continental climate with hot, dry summers and cold snowy winters allows the perfect conditions for growing outstanding Malbec. This grape is easy to like for its lusty, deep flavors and aromas of blackberry, plum, red cherry, autumn spice and tilled earth. It’s easy to find delicious, fruit-driven, affordable everyday examples and in prices beyond, quite exceptional ones with dense, supple textures that make them capable of aging.