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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 87.6 pts. and median of 88 pts. in 149 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by HockeyBoy24 on 3/12/2023 & rated 89 points: Strong tannins , smooth taste and lovely texture (924 views) | | | Tasted by Danny68 on 12/11/2021 & rated 87 points: Til julefrokost møn (2091 views) | | | Tasted by Steff on 10/30/2021 & rated 90 points: complex and vibrant. Lots of action. Better with food than sipping afterwards. (2104 views) | | | Tasted by Bob and Joli on 3/7/2021 & rated 87 points: Very drinkable Malbec. Plenty of deep notes. Sophisticated.
Don't let this sit much longer. It's approaching end of life.
Enjoy on weeknights. (2734 views) | | | Tasted by osharyn on 2/28/2021: Smooth and at the end of its drink date, but good. (2441 views) | | | Tasted by Bob and Joli on 2/21/2021 & rated 87 points: Very serviceable Malbec. Rich, dark fruits. Sophisticated. Very good value. Held up well overnight. Should be good through 2023 or beyond. (2184 views) | | | Tasted by MDRwinos on 12/29/2020 & rated 85 points: Mildly enjoyable Malbec. Some darker fruit. Nothing special or bad about it. Easy drinker for QPR (1226 views) | | | Tasted by merryberry on 8/1/2020 & rated 91 points: Similar to last time, but spicier and smoother. Plenty of fruit left. (1832 views) | | | Tasted by pmik on 4/8/2020 & rated 90 points: Still alive and well! (1767 views) | | | Tasted by DOCGLO on 3/22/2020 & rated 88 points: Abundant dark fruit on the palate with aromas of dried raisin and chocolate. Smooth tannins with a lingering finish. Pairs well with grilled bison burgers. (1745 views) | | | Tasted by Mike6743 on 1/30/2020 & rated 90 points: A good chocolate aroma and taste at the right temp. Decant 30-60 minutes. (1823 views) | | | Tasted by Butankus on 8/31/2019 & rated 84 points: One of my go to faves (959 views) | | | Tasted by ppandian on 6/20/2019 & rated 86 points: Quite good. (2409 views) | | | Tasted by chbeaumont on 3/2/2019 & rated 85 points: Opaque; plump nose, (dark) berried, obvious; overwrought, 'sweet' fruit, (calmer next day - though fruit drying out), hard tannins, unknit. Best with a couple of hours decant. This will be best drunk soon, I suspect. (2333 views) | | | Tasted by Cesar Fraga on 1/17/2019 & rated 90 points: Rubi intenso. Limpo no visual. Algum resíduo em garrafa. Aroma de frutas negras mirtilo, ameixa e um pouco de erbaceo refrescante hortelã. Em boca taninos macios e boa acidez. (2132 views) | | | Tasted by cab blends on 12/17/2018 & rated 87 points: Beautiful strawberry nose. Very enticing.
Body does not live up to the nose. A little bland and short finish. (2352 views) | | | Tasted by Steff on 8/25/2018 & rated 91 points: Much smoother and nicer than expected. Smokey tones of almost whiskey style. Some one around the table said “candy, not wine”. Had I with meat expecting to complement red meat but it could work with pork and duck as well I think. (1933 views) | | | Tasted by knorthrip on 8/21/2018 & rated 88 points: Deep purple with a pink rim. Heavy staining and legs. On the nose stewed black cherry, blackberry cordial and strawberry. Notes of violets, lavender, forest floor, mocha, and baking spice. On the palate prominent notes of blackberry cordial and ripe black cherry with violets, leather, and mocha. Med+ tannin, Med acid, Med EtOH, full bodied, round texture after some initial astringency. Fruit forward with noticeable tannins but still comes across as missing something. Unlikely to improve with age. (2022 views) | | | Tasted by Zinslut on 4/13/2018 & rated 86 points: I am in many ways I am with the previous reviewer, 2 years waiting, very promising and potential in my tastings on selection. We that have cellars you have winners, losers, and just middle disappointments, here evolves the Cantena. A beautiful blackberry nose of liquor, some rich saddle wood and herbaceous bell pepper. The alcohol seems above 13.5 and there is a chalkiness
Stealing away from the wine. Tasting is more of the same with extreme dryness and more black plum notes. Unfortunately will never meet my expectations on purchase, consume with rich food ,N.Y steak, cheese & polenta, maybe some chocolate cheesecake. I don’t see much fruit assending so best to consume with the summer grill. (2442 views) | | | Tasted by BrendanNeary on 4/10/2018 & rated 89 points: I bought this and cellared it for 2 years, just to see what a $19 bottle of Argentinian Malbec could do. So, here goes the summary...Medium+ garnet color, medium+ nose, with strong black fruit (blackberry) and a little vegetal notes (green bell pepper). Full body, Medium- acid, medium+ tannin, less black fruit on the palate (blackberry, black plum) and more vegetal (green bell pepper, black pepper) Medium+ finish. Drinking nicely now. Because of the lack of acidity I'm not sure it has more life left though. So, drink now. (2137 views) | | | Tasted by DWise on 3/31/2018 & rated 85 points: Light and drinkable (2151 views) | | | Tasted by klaus3974 on 11/14/2017 & rated 88 points: Not your typical fruit bomb Malbec. Entry level Catena Zapata. Very dark, medium body, restrained nose of blackberries, good acidity and mellow tannins. Better on second day. Good early drinker but QPR was not good at $19 I paid for it. (2612 views) | | | Tasted by Worldb on 9/30/2017 & rated 90 points: Dark opaque purple....fresh mixed red berries on the nose....not a lot of heat. Good acid and integrated with some oak seasoning...nice bit of spice and bite on the finish. Pretty delicious with bbq\tailgate fare. Bought at Costco for 16$...very good but not great qpr. (2607 views) | | | Tasted by mattlieber on 8/25/2017 & rated 90 points: Excellent with grilled burgers. (2358 views) | | | Tasted by merryberry on 8/18/2017 & rated 90 points: Almost black with ruby highlights. Blueberry, bramble and leather nose. Medium to full bodied, blackberries, black cherries, spices, sweet tannins, good acid, milk chocolate, smoke, and a medium to long finish. Got better and better over the couple of days it was open. (2266 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, Argentina: The Cool Years (Mar 2016) (3/1/2016)
(Bodega Catena Zapata Malbec) Subscribe to see review text. | By Steve Thurlow
WineAlign (1/24/2016)
(Catena Malbec High Mountain Vines red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Sara d'Amato
WineAlign (8/4/2015)
(Catena Malbec High Mountain Vines red) Subscribe to see review text. | By David Lawrason
WineAlign (7/17/2015)
(Catena Malbec High Mountain Vines red) Subscribe to see review text. | By John Szabo, MS
WineAlign (7/14/2015)
(Catena Malbec High Mountain Vines red) Subscribe to see review text. |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Vinous and WineAlign. (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.
Bodega Catena Zapata Malbec Catena High Mountain VinesNicola Catena planted his first Malbec vineyard in Mendoza in 1902. His grandson, Nicolás Catena, is known as the man who revolutionized Argentine wine and introduced high altitude Malbec to the world. The Historic Catena Zapata vineyards are planted with the Catena family’s proprietary selection of malbec plants: the Catena Cuttings. Catena Alta Malbec is sourced from Lot 18 of the Angélica vineyard, Lot 4 of the La Pirámide vineyard, Lot 1 of the Nicasia vineyard, Lot 6 of the Angélica Sur vineyard and Lot 9 of the Adrianna vineyard.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.Argentina 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 Mendoza |
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