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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 93.4 pts. and median of 93 pts. in 62 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by spendergast on 4/20/2024 & rated 97 points: A great Malbec that continues to evolve nicely. Notes similar to my last tasting in 2022. This wine is highly extracted with bold dark fruit, well balanced with velvety mouthfeel and long finish. (69 views) | | | Tasted by jusuf on 11/24/2022 & rated 98 points: Mimics the 2005. Bursting from the glass. Fasten the seat belt before drinking. Velvet and power. Gigantic body. If Malbec could become even more complex this would be a constant 100 points candidate. Finish lasts for minutes. (746 views) | | | Tasted by pavel_p on 4/9/2022 & rated 93 points: 5 years since my last bottle… 30 min decant. Was an ok wine but nothing great before the meal arrived. Still a fairly dark garnet with a very thin translucent rim in the glass. Quite fresh on the nose and attack with plenty of dark berries. On the mid palate lacking a bit of concentration. Initially fully integrated tannins but with more air they become more prominent and somewhat drying.
Once the steaks arrived this was just a perfect match though, and the wine continued strongly after dinner. There is good acidity and freshness but also this touch of sweetness joining the leather and dark fruits - I would have likely guessed old world styled Cali Cab (a la Monte Bello, Togni etc) mid 2000s blind. (1215 views) | | | Tasted by MS86 on 3/24/2022 & rated 95 points: Deep ruby with modest garnet fading at the rim.
Austere and quite attractive. Chocolate, vanilla, new leather and earth. Violet, Mediterranean herbs.
Lovely mouthfeel. Delicate while maintaining a sense of presence. Smooth, resovled tannins, refreshing acidity and perfectly integrated alcohol.
Palate brings forth the ripe black plum and blackberry that were missing from the nose. Chcolate, leather, tobacco leaf. Such wonderful integration.
Excellent length with hints of mint
Wonderful wine nearing peak. (1088 views) | | | Tasted by spendergast on 1/14/2022 & rated 95 points: An excellent Malbec - very concentrated fruit with great balance, long finish. I don't think this wine has necessarily peaked yet. (1246 views) | | | Tasted by Kento61 on 12/28/2021 & rated 93 points: Heavy, dark fruit, some stone, cedar. Great with seared filet with butter/gorgonzola cheese toping, asparagus and double baked potato. Decant at least 3 hours. (1152 views) | | | Tasted by spendergast on 11/14/2021 & rated 96 points: Decanted 1.5 hrs. Deep red purple with notes of dense dark fruit, cedar, glycerin with well integrated soft tannins. Finish was 30+ seconds. Overall, a very satisfying wine that paired nicely with grilled Bistro filets. (902 views) | | | Tasted by erter99 on 9/6/2021: A - deep ruby
N - pronounced, developing; black cherry, blueberry, stewed fruits, toast, char, vanilla, smoke, meat, forest floor, earth.
P - dry, med (+) acid, med (+) tannins, high EtOH (14.0%), full body, pronounced flavor intensity, long finish; see nose.
C - outstanding (BLIC), drink now but can age a bit more, likely close to peak. (769 views) | | | Tasted by pinotpounder on 3/25/2021 & rated 94 points: 94 points (940 views) | | | Tasted by Winevestor on 2/21/2021 & rated 92 points: Very different from my last bottle. This one felt massive and shut down. I had to decant it for 3 hours and even then it felt like a toddler. Big fruit covering broad tannins. I would leave this for a few years - I would hope it would open up. Big brooding monster this time around. (873 views) | | | Tasted by Verb on 4/23/2020 & rated 94 points: very similar to my tasting note 3 years ago: dark purple with no hint of oxidation - intense voluptuous nose of blackberry, cassis and leather - big big mouth with soft tannins and nice acid-tannin-fruit balance - long 20-30 second finish - still plenty of life left, and would expect further evolution over the next 5-10 years, but drinking beautifully now so I'm not sure I would wait to enjoy it (1137 views) | | | Tasted by Winevestor on 7/6/2019 & rated 94 points: A great wine which I think gives a really good idea of what good Argentinean Malbec should be. Very smooth (which was surprising), plum, a little soy, wet stone and a little bit of rubber (almost like a tiny Pinotage hit). Very well crafted, in the middle of the drinking window. Still a long way to go. Will it get better? I'm not sure. I do think good Malbec on its own is an acquired taste. It is only a few people who get excited to pull one from the cellar. But this one I'm going to track happily and will pull the next one when I've got time to concentrate on it. (1281 views) | | | Tasted by Purple Tooth on 12/8/2018 & rated 95 points: A big Malbec, exploding with oak creme and vanilla, followed by cedar and unfolding into a big leathery beast. A great Malbec....Driink while its in balance and powerful. Its plenty polished...Dink or hold (2105 views) | | | Tasted by Al-Vino on 7/7/2018 & rated 92 points: Two hour decant required. Still has lots of life left. Rich and bold with character to spare. (1906 views) | | | Tasted by Darkman on 5/31/2018 & rated 92 points: Very suttle, elegant wine. All components are integrated, the wine is good to drink now. Don‘t think it can benefit from further ageing (1949 views) | | | Tasted by benny on 5/19/2018 & rated 95 points: Drank over 2 hours. This is a gorgeous wine. (1806 views) | | | Tasted by Dionysos 1920 on 4/21/2018 & rated 92 points: La bouteille est restée une année et demi légèrement entamée (2 verres soutirés avec Coravin). Pas oxydée mais plus tannique du tout. Fruité mais manque de complexité. Agréable mais ne vaut assurément pas les 96 pts de Parker. (772 views) | | | Tasted by Zed57 on 12/31/2017 & rated 95 points: Amazing. Wish I had more. Don’t wait. Drink now (1513 views) | | | Tasted by Verb on 8/27/2017 & rated 94 points: decanted for 1 hr and drank for 2 hrs - dark purple with no hint of oxidation - intense voluptuous nose of blackberry, cassis and leather - big big mouth with beautiful acid tannin balance - still plenty of life left, and would expect further evolution over the next 5-10 years - one of the best malbecs I've had in the last year (1618 views) | | | Tasted by Kento61 on 8/22/2017 & rated 95 points: I gave this wine a 92 rating back in 2012 and a 95 today in 2017. The well balanced flavors paired extremely well with the chimichurri steak we had for dinner and worked equally well post-dinner as we finished the bottle. With two more bottles in our cellar, I'm looking forward to even better in the years to come. (1421 views) | | | Tasted by Zed57 on 7/4/2017 & rated 95 points: Holy cow! Amazing and interesting nose of saddle leather,flowers and Asian spice. Unbelievably complex on the palate as it blows you away with beam of rasberry and mineral surrounded by blackberry and spice that goes on and on and reveals more flavours through the finish. It may have more time but I can't imagine it can get better. (1404 views) | | | Tasted by Al-Vino on 7/2/2017 & rated 92 points: I was wrong. It did improve in the cellar. Big, rich and bold. Vegans beware - needs a rare steak to be fully appreciated. Ready to drink. (1403 views) | | | Tasted by Le Huy on 4/26/2017: Light in the nose..complex in palet..cassis.. (1500 views) | | | Tasted by DrZett on 3/10/2017 & rated 92 points: Very complex and opulent. Gets better after a few hours and becomes very smooth. Great Malbec, I like it. Drink now or keep it - this one can be kept for at least 10 more years. (1497 views) | | | Tasted by pavel_p on 2/2/2017 & rated 93 points: Slow ox'ed for 5 hours. Dark garnet with translucent rim. Big on the nose. Surprisingly developed on the palate, dominated by leather and tobacco notes, medium plus body on the mid-palate, not overly sweet, medium (+) finish. 93-94. I liked this a lot and the best Catena Zapata I have had, just not sure if this can last another 10-15 years as it seemed quite developed for such a big wine at age 10. So would drink now if you have a few. (1864 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| i-WineReview.com, Report 26: Diverse Wines of Argentina (4/10/2011)
(Catena Zapata Malbec Adrianna Vineyard Mendoza) Subscribe to see review text. | By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, January/February 2011, IWC Issue #154
(Bodega Catena Zapata Malbec Catena Zapata Adrianna Vineyard Gualtallary Mendoza) Subscribe to see review text. | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (9/8/2016)
(Bodega Catena Zapata Malbec Adrianna Vineyard) Bricking dark red violet color; violets, raspberry puree, framboise, cherry nose; tasty, hedonistic, ripe plum, cherry, violets, graphite palate with firm, sweet tannins; medium-plus finish (14.5% alcohol) 92+ points 92 points |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of i-WineReview.com and Vinous and RJonWine.com. (manage subscription channels) |
| Bodega Catena Zapata Producer website
U.S. Importer (Addt'l Info)
In 1902, Nicola Catena, an Italian immigrant, planted his first vineyard in Mendoza, Argentina. The winery has remained under family control — now in its fourth generation — and is one of the few family-owned wine companies in Argentina that remains in Argentine hands. Owned today by Nicolás Catena and his daughter Laura, Bodega Catena Zapata is known as the pioneer of fine wine from Argentina, and Nicolás is recognized as the vintner who revolutionized wine quality in Argentina. A trained economist, Nicolás began this revolution in the early 1980s and continues to challenge himself and his team to make wines that can be counted among the best in the world. His measured approach to viticulture has taken its place in wine history as the pioneer of Malbec and high-altitude viticulture.
Head winemaker, Alejandro Vigil, has been at Catena Zapata since 2002. A naturally restless person, Alejandro strives to channel his creative energy into pushing the limits of conventional viticultural and winemaking wisdom. Always ready to try something new, full of endless experiments, Alejandro’s goal is to constantly increase his understanding of the unique terroir in Mendoza’s high-altitude desert oasis.
Catena wines, first launched in 1992, set a new standard for quality in South America. The wines immediately proved the quality potential of Argentina and garnered the first outstanding reviews for Argentine wines from worldwide media. After more than 20 years, the wines of Catena continue to lead the way in Argentine viticulture and winemaking. Nicolás Catena Zapata dared to plant vines where no one thought they would ripen. His high-altitude wine revolution culminated in the discovery of a new terroir for wine, the Adrianna Vineyard, at almost 5,000 feet elevation. Today, the team at the Catena Institute of Wine is dedicated to studying every meter, every rock, every insect and microorganism in the Adrianna Vineyard, making it perhaps the most studied vineyard in the world.
Malbec Varietal character (Appellation America)
One of the traditional “Bordeaux varietals”, Malbec has characteristics that fall somewhere between Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. A midseason ripener, it can bring very deep color, ample tannin, and a particular plum-like flavor component to add complexity to claret blends. Malbec is a finicky vine whose fruit is prone to rot and mildew in the cool, damp coastal climate of Bordeaux. But ask a Bordelais grower why there’s no Malbec around, and you’ll more likely get a dismissive shrug and sniff than a viticultural analysis. It is known in much of France as Côt, and, in Cahors, also as Auxerrois. There are in fact hundreds of local synonyms, since Malbec at one time was widely planted all over the country. Sensitivity to frost and proclivity to shatter or coulure (a disease that results in premature fruit drop) is the primary reason that Malbec has become a decreasing factor in most of France. Although plantings in the Medoc have decreased by over twothirds since the mid-twentieth century, Malbec is now the dominant red varietal in the Cahors area. The Appellation Controlée regulations for Cahors require a minimum content of 70%. Malbec is also planted in Chile, and there’s relatively little and recent acreage in California and Australia. It is usually blended with other red varietals in these countries. But Malbec truly comes into its own in Argentina, where it is the major red varietal planted. Much of the Malbec vines there were transplanted from Europe prior to the outbreak of phylloxera and most is therefore ungrafted, on its own roots. Sadly, over the years the bug infested Argentina, too, and vineyards are being replanted on resistant rootstock. Happily, the vines thrive in the arid climate of the Mendoza region in the foothills of the Andes. Made in the context of this South American nation’s Spanish and Italian heritage, it produces a delicious wine that has almost nothing in common with Bordeaux except the color. Argentines often spell it “Malbeck” and make wines from it that are slightly similar in flavor to those made in Europe, but with softer, lusher structure, more like New World Merlot. Another difference is that where French examples are usually considered short-lived, Argentine Malbecs seem to age fairly well. Successful Argentine Malbec growers claim that, in order to develop full maturity and distinction, Malbec needs “hang time” even after sugar levels indicate ripeness. Otherwise, immature Malbec can be very “green” tasting, without its characteristic notes of plum and anise. Malbec in Argentina has come to be appreciated for a spicy white pepper characteristic, the aroma of violets, and sweet, jammy fruit. It is a seductive wine that is typically warm and generous in the mouth, with plenty of flesh, and very appealing when young. Almost always producing a ripe and fruity, even plummy wine, Malbec can take oak aging or show well without it; it’s juicy and quaffable when young but can benefit from aging, developing an intriguing complexity with time in the bottle. It can range in price from as little as $7 to more than $75. The true potential of Argentine Malbec, and indeed in the entire spectrum of Argentine wines, is demonstrated by the fact that many of the world’s most renowned winemakers have come to Argentina to make wine. Both the legendary California winemaker Paul Hobbs, and Michel Rolland of Bordeaux, one of the world’s most famous winemakers, have created very high-end Malbecs. It may be the Italian component in the country’s mixed Latin family tree that fosters the fact that Malbec is an exceptional companion with a broad range of food. Its well-balanced fruit-and-acid profile makes it a natural with rare beef (bear in mind that Argentina is cattle country), but it’s just as good with simple fare from burgers to fried chicken. With its natural balance, good pairings include: cajun cuisine, calzones, cannelloni with meat, poultry, vegetable couscous, steak creole, Greek cuisine, deviled eggs, hummus, Indian cuisine, leg of lamb, Mexican cuisine with meat, pâté, spinach soufflé, and hearty pasta. For cheeses, think of harder styles that are either waxed or oiled, such as Parmigiano Reggiano, Ricotta Salata, Romano, Asiago, Pont l’Eveque, Gruyere, Manchego, Cantal, Comte, old Gouda, old Cheddar, Baulderstone, Beaufort, Leicester, aged Chesire, Chevre Noir, Wensleydale, Tilsit, Iberico, Mahon, Roncal, and Mizithra.Adrianna Vineyard On weinlagen-infoArgentina Wines of Argentina
Argentina has been making wine since the 1500s, tracing its wine heritage back to Spain, France and, perhaps surprisingly, Italy. Italian immigration is second only to Spanish in Argentine culture, and the flavors of Italy show up strongly in the nation’s wine, food and cultural tradition. Historically, Argentina has kept much of its wine consumption at home, drinking most of the wine it makes. But we are now seeing more very serious Argentine wines north of the border, and Malbec is leading the movement. The wine-making region in Argentina ranges between the 22° and 42° South latitude. It spreads at the foothills of the Andean mountain range along over 2,400 km; from the province of Salta to the province of Río Negro, with a variety of climates and soils that makes each region a unique land. In general terms, the areas dedicated to vine cultivation are dry and arid with a low level of rain and humidity, determining factor as regards grape health. Abundant sunny days and thermal amplitude favor a good maturity and concentration of aroma and color in the grain. Soils are deep, permeable and poor in organic matter, decisive qualities at the time of obtaining good wine. Due to the low rain regime, irrigation is necessary. Water comes from the Andean range thaw, descending in the shape of rivers to become channels or ditches. Undoubtedly, the combination of these factors turns Argentina into a veritable oasis for the highest quality wine-making. Nevertheless, there is still a long way to go. Wine-making in Argentina, at the level that it achieves today, has a young history that goes back to a little more than 10 years ago. Technological progress, investment and some farsighted businessmen enabled a determining transformation. The province of Mendoza is the most traditional area in the viticultural industry, and is diverse enough to be divided into zones, according to their significantly different weather, height and soil characteristics. These include the Northern Zone, which is suitable for fruity whites and young reds, at a height from 600 to 700m; the Eastern Zone, with a height ranging from 600 to 700m, and the most productive zone in the province; the Uco Valley, a zone of colder weather and higher altitudes (between 800 and 1,400m over sea level); San Rafael, with heights ranging from 450 to 800m; and the High Zone of the Mendoza River, with heights ranging from 800 to 1,100m over sea level and various microclimates, this is the zone where almost all noble varieties have easily become adapted. It is a region that is remarkably well-suited to vine culture, protected from the Pacific’s cooling influence by the Andes and enjoying a long summer of cool nights and warm days, with a dry summer climate but plenty of water available from the region’s rivers. Malbec in particular is outstanding from this area, and it has clearly emerged as the star, the darling of both consumers and critics.Mendoza Wines of MendozaValle de Uco On weinlagen-info |
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