External search
Google (images)
Wine Advocate
Wine Spectator
Burghound
Wine-Searcher
Vintages
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
Show more
From this producer
Show all wines
All tasting notes
|
| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Drinking window: Drink between 2021 and 2025 (based on 35 user opinions) |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 88.8 pts. and median of 89 pts. in 173 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by nocowine on 3/10/2023: Nice Malbec. Not special. Medium to fuller bodied. Berries. Medium finish. Good wine but not the 94 rating that Suckling gave it in my opinion. (1863 views) | | | Tasted by AMG4RPM on 2/12/2023 & rated 89 points: Good solid Malbec. Tasted against Kirkland Malbec, very similar flavor profiles QPR favored the Kirkland but the Catena is a good wine. (1689 views) | | | Tasted by astifors on 11/25/2022 & rated 89 points: Drank it with three other Argentinian Malbecs. The Catena was the youngest and maybe unfair to compare but the Catena is a crowd pleaser. Easy to like. Less complex than the other ones and a little lighter but balanced and approachable. Doubt that a lot will happen with further storage. (2243 views) | | | Tasted by Julie Harrison on 11/18/2022: Needs lots of time to open. (2180 views) | | | Tasted by LindsayM on 10/22/2022: Lots of blackberry and blueberry character with a black-tea undertone. Turns to flowers. Medium to full body, fresh acidity and a long and gorgeous finish. Vivid and bright. Transparent. Drink now. Rating: 94 Points; James Suckling
2018 seems like a very good year for young and juicy reds, which is what the 2018 Catena Malbec is, a pure varietal that shows the typicity of the grape and the freshness of the year. It has the telltale aromas and the soft and velvety texture of the grape, with nicely integrated oak and a dry, long and pleasant finish. This has mind-boggling quality for the quantity—they produce 2.5 million bottles of it! One to buy by the case. Date: Nov 2019; Drink: 2019-2023; Luis Gutiérrez; Rating: 91+ Points; Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate (2578 views) | | | Tasted by CC2889 on 10/12/2022 & rated 89 points: Moderate dark fruit with hints of toasty oak aromas on the nose. On the palate, it has licourice, dark chocolate, sweet plum and dark berries tastes with medium acidity and rounded medium tannins. Short finish. Balance mouthfeel. Full body. Quite complex. Nice to drink. (1182 views) | | | Tasted by dead puddle on 10/2/2022 & rated 87 points: Pnp, decant 4 hours. Nice nose of dark chocolate. Mouth with sweat blackberry jam, warm french choclate, ending on interesting almond. Polished tannins, big and integrated oak, light acidity and light bodied. Commercialy well made. "JS94" sticker is on the label. Not a reason to leave it. Or is it ? Ok, not essential. (1125 views) | | | Tasted by Goldstone on 9/19/2022 & rated 86 points: Semi-transparent purple/ruby. Nose is musty and, particularly, feral… like a damp wild boar. Sensations of dark but milky chocolate too. Hints of home-baked gingerbread. Palate shows a sweet, definitely sweet black/red berry fruit, almost compote, and very rounded but tamed new oak tannins but bitter and black chocolate on the final swallow. Not much resonance or length but there is nothing to complain about here but that is my maximum praise. (974 views) | | | Tasted by cristalmania0813 on 9/5/2022 & rated 82 points: weak aroma and taste
just tanin (809 views) | | | Tasted by OscarWineVino on 8/29/2022 & rated 87 points: Drinkable but not complex. Unremarkable. Flavour: Red/dark berries, low tannins. (637 views) | | | Tasted by maxima on 8/26/2022 & rated 88 points: Sombre et tannique.
Mures et cerises noires avec
des tannins asséchants.
Hyper long et sur la chauffe.
A attendre. (1216 views) | | | Tasted by auldalliance on 7/18/2022: A cut above cheaper Argentinian Malbec.
Refined, fruit is not jammy, but integrates well with acidity, tannins just fine and alcohol in balance.
The fruit was not in your face, but still at the forefront - cherries, brambles and some grip to it as well.
Good with steak one night and burger 2 days later (777 views) | | | Tasted by corkscrews on 6/24/2022 & rated 89 points: A nose of some dark fruit and some spice, dark purple in color. A medium to full bodied red, with blackberry, black cherry, licorice and spice on smooth finish. www.winelx.com (948 views) | | | Tasted by ikkaariainen on 6/15/2022 & rated 90 points: Very good QPR inexpensive entry level high altitude malbec from probably the best malbec producer in the world - definitely recommend this as a flexible entry level wine that shines sipping on it's own or paired especially with anything meaty. Drink or hold but leaning on the drink - this won't get better although it clearly still has at least a couple years left. One of the stalwarts in our daily drinker rotation. Balanced, tannins resolving, medium bodied, medium length aftertaste. Soft nose of red cherry, rose petals and mocha. Flavor profile pleasant and on the lighter side but somewhat simplistic - light oak and dark fruit up front with cola, coffee.and finally a smokier finish. Very pleasant little wine. (903 views) | | | Tasted by denisontb on 5/21/2022 & rated 90 points: Delicious ! (1162 views) | | | Tasted by cstephns on 5/13/2022: Good wine. Full bodies with a little bit of spice. (797 views) | | | Tasted by JPL on 5/12/2022 & rated 78 points: Too tanic. (1053 views) | | | Tasted by Djfermentation on 5/11/2022 & rated 90 points: Tasty with grilled flank steak tacos last night on the grill. (961 views) | | | Tasted by MattMauldin on 3/12/2022 & rated 90 points: Very deep purple-garnet, brightly toned. Aromas of blackcurrant & black plum with leather, graphite, anise seed and clove. Deep and concentrated palate with expressive black fruit and secondary cracked pepper, cedar & leather, and five spice. Medium-bodied, firm density with finesse, nicely offsetting acid and full gripping tannins, finishing with nice concentrated length. Outstanding for the price. (890 views) | | | Tasted by Windwind on 2/12/2022 & rated 84 points: 소고기와 온 가족이 함께한 와인. 약간의 떫은 맛이 음식과 잘 어울림 (1758 views) | | | Tasted by Bonecruncher on 2/6/2022 & rated 93 points: Strong tannins but big enough wine to handle it without being too astringent
Would buy again ! (1696 views) | | | Tasted by golfhawk on 12/31/2021 & rated 90 points: Very good Malbec that should be drank over the next year or two. (1900 views) | | | Tasted by bbrandal on 12/27/2021: . (1881 views) | | | Tasted by jgdpz on 12/26/2021 & rated 85 points: 삼겹살과 함께 뽕따로 즐김
말벡은 이제 그냥 그냥인듯
그래도 고기와 가볍게 즐기기에 좋은듯 (1774 views) | | | Tasted by Miguelvino@yahoo.com on 12/13/2021 & rated 89 points: Medium dark ruby color, strong tannings, dark red fruits, medium to long finish. Better with steak. (1500 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Julie Sheppard
Decanter, Great Value South American Wines for Summer (7/7/2021)
(Catena, Malbec, Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina, Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Sara d'Amato
WineAlign (2/28/2021)
(Catena Lunlunta Old Vines Appellation Malbec red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Michael Godel
WineAlign (2/24/2021)
(Catena Lunlunta Old Vines Appellation Malbec red) Subscribe to see review text. | By John Szabo, MS
WineAlign (2/24/2021)
(Catena Lunlunta Old Vines Appellation Malbec red) Subscribe to see review text. | By David Lawrason
WineAlign (2/22/2021)
(Catena Lunlunta Old Vines Appellation Malbec red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Steve Thurlow
WineAlign (10/12/2020)
(Catena Malbec High Mountain Vines red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, Argentina Reaches New Heights (Sep 2019) (9/1/2019)
(Bodega Catena Zapata Malbec Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, Argentina Reaches New Heights (Sep 2019) (9/1/2019)
(Bodega Catena Zapata Malbec Old Vines (appellation Lunlunta) Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By James Suckling
JamesSuckling.com (2/20/2019)
(Catena Zapata Malbec Mendoza High Mountain Vines, Red, Argentina) Subscribe to see review text. |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Decanter and WineAlign and Vinous and JamesSuckling.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.
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 |
|
