Winemaker Notes
A glass coating opaque purple color, it delivers a breathtaking bouquet of toasty oak, cinnamon,violets, incense, truffle, black cherry, and plum. Fullbodied, layered, dense, and rich, this Malbecmanages to combine elegance and power. Sweetly fruited, savory, and harmonious, it will evolve for 68 years and drink well through 2026.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
If the color doesn't tell the full story, the nose will: it's impeccably perfumed, round and sweet, with amazing fruit aromas and a toasty background. The feel is a lush and rich as they come, and there's outstanding purity to the lusty black fruit flavors. A masher with elegance. Maybe the best Malbec Argentina has ever produced. Drink from 2010-15.
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Wine Spectator
Dense and layered, with loads of braised fig, currant paste, crushed plum and macerated blackberry fruit laced with licorice snap, black tea and spice notes. The long, broad finish has superb acidity buried deep, letting a floral hint skitter in the background. Shows impressive depth and range.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2006 Malbec Nicasia Vineyard spent 18 months in 150% new French oak prior to bottling without fining or filtration. A glass-coating opaque purple color, it delivers a breath-taking bouquet of toasty oak, cinnamon, violets, incense, truffle, black cherry, and plum. Full-bodied, layered, dense, and rich, this Malbec manages to combine elegance and power. Sweetly-fruited, savory, and harmonious, it will evolve for 6-8 years and drink well through 2026.
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.