Winemaker Notes
The Catena Malbec Appellation La Consulta shows a dark violet color with deep purple tones. The nose offers aromas like red fruit and ripe, concentrated dark berries with fresh herbs and floral notes like lavender and violets, some traces of vanilla and tobacco. The mouthfeel is rich, with raspberries and blueberries, spices notes and a touch of mocha. The finish presents soft and well-structured tannins with bright, crisp acidity that gives the wine exceptional length.
Pairs well with beef tenderloin.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This starts with some cedary notes, together with fresh violets, forest wood, crushed stone and vibrant, redder-toned fruit. The palate offers such juicy and succulently elegant fruit flavor with fresh red berries and supple, long, focused tannins. Drink or hold.
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Wine & Spirits
Winemaker Alejandro Vigil culls grapes from several vineyards in La Consulta for this wine, fermenting it in stainless steel tanks and aging it in French oak barrels. Smoky wood tones dominate at first, but with time in the glass, lush purple fruit takes over, violet-scented and black-peppery. It’s also got grip, a vertical structure that contributes a feeling of coolness and clarity despite its opulence.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The very primary and fruit-driven 2018 Appellation La Consulta Malbec revealed a varietal personality—juicy, with some of the chalky texture of the stony soils. Easy and juicy.
Rating: 90+ -
Wine Spectator
Concentrated raspberry and red cherry flavors are fresh and minerally and backed by lively acidity. The finish pops with red licorice and green olive accents. Drink now through 2023.
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.
Celebrated for its bold flavors and supple texture, Malbec has enjoyed runaway success in Argentina since the late 20th century. The grape originated in Bordeaux, France, where it historically contributed color and tannin to blends. A French agronomist, who saw great potential for the variety in Mendoza’s hot, high-altitude landscape, brought Malbec to Argentina in 1868. Somm Secret—If you’re trying to please a crowd, Malbec is generally a safe bet with its combination of dense fruit and soft tannins.
By far the largest and best-known winemaking province in Argentina, Mendoza is responsible for over 70% of the country’s enological output. Set in the eastern foothills of the Andes Mountains, the climate is dry and continental, presenting relatively few challenges for viticulturists during the growing season. Mendoza, divided into several distinctive sub-regions, including Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley, is the source of some of the country’s finest wines.
For many wine lovers, Mendoza is practically synonymous with Malbec. Originally a Bordelaise variety brought to Argentina by the French in the mid-1800s, here it found success and renown that it never knew in its homeland where a finicky climate gives mixed results. Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot and Pinot Noir are all widely planted here as well (and sometimes even blended with each other or Malbec). Mendoza's main white varieties include Chardonnay, Torrontés, Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon.