Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2005 Malbec Argentino is a blend of the Nicasia and Adrianna Vineyards. As is often the case, the blend is better (although not by much) than either of the individual components. It offers greater complexity both aromatically and on the palate, opulence, great fruit expression, and superb aging potential. Drink this beautifully rendered wine from 2015 to 2035.
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Wine Enthusiast
This blend from the Nicasia and Adrianna vineyards is the best Malbec on the market today. There’s raisin, mineral, licorice, blackberry and more. The mouth is like a Mack truck on ice skates, meaning it’s both huge and elegant. And the mile-long finish of coffee, mocha and molten black fruit is awesome.
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Wine Spectator
Ambitious, with lots of muscular, very toasty fig, blueberry, black currant and boysenberry flavors wound together by bittersweet cocoa and fruitcake notes. The long, powerful finish will need some time to stretch out fully.
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Wine & Spirits
A blend of grapes from Gualtallary and Altamira in the Uco Valley, this Malbec is sweet with caramelized aromas and deep flavors of fig and black cherry. To sip by the fireplace.
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.