2020 Bodega Catena Zapata Malbec La Consulta

Community Tasting Notes (4) Avg Score: 89.7 points

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  3/3/2024 - WyattTheSomm Likes this wine: 88 Points

  I still think older bottles of Catena were a-lot better I have to at least get Alta at this point to get the full experience but having tried every vintage in a row since 2014 this is not a good vintage from La Consulta. I think the CT rating is too high here… I drank this with the 2018 & 2019 having multiple guest that agree with this conclusion.
  
  La Consulta Tech-Sheet:
  8 months in barrel (35% new) French oak.
  La Consulta Vineyard (1095m/3592ft). Alluvial origin. Loamy soil, with rounded rocks on the bottom (80% Sand - 10% Clay - 10% Silt).
  
  SIGHT: A beautiful magenta Malbec color medium purple (not super dark) and medium concentration/staining on the glass.
  
  NOSE: Monderate intensity a rather jammy wine with more red fruit like in the rough vintage of 2016. Raspberry coulis, ripe Strawberry, plum, and strawberry leaf show this is very red fruit dominate. I’m used to more blackberry, floral notes and vanilla but that characteristic is not here which shows the vintage. Secondary notes show a earthier wine with some refreshing minerality.
  
  TASTE: The palate has a complete unbalance with the tannins from the oak… I noticed this vintage has 8 Vs. the normal 12 months aging and I know why because the wine doesn’t hold it well. The wine taste like it has more oak when it doesn’t….The acid is also very low showing unbalance and while the wine is very easy drinking it very much lacks the proper structure from previous vintages and leaves it feeling flat. On the palate there is a drying oak, lots of jammy red fruits that delights tastebuds and a stream of minerality in the finish that helps keep things clear.
  
  OVERALL: Most people enjoyed the wine as a different option to the Cabs on the table as this was more jammy and had bold fruits flavor but with little tannin bite. I’m a huge fan of Catena and truly care But the Vintage unfortunately resulted is a lesser wine here it’s very clear (JS 93pts lol) the 2018 and 2019 are At least classic in nature so I would highly recommend those but this I would not, I’d say grab a different vintage of this lovely wine.
  I’ll leave you with this… “Heat is the enemy of freshness”, I clearly see that in a quick harvest affected by covid and the warmest conditions on record with 55 days over 32c (typically 30-31c) is certainly the case here in 2020 unfortunately for La Consulta.

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  11/30/2023 - ribollagialla2 Likes this wine: 92 Points

  Smooth, plenty of blackberry and blueberry flavors, with creamy body of chocolate and vanilla. Enjoyable on its own or with a meal. This Argentine Malbec doesn’t dissappoint.

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  6/15/2023 - Jobu wrote: 90 Points

  Floral on the nose & palate. Red plum, raspberry, stones, chocolate, and baking spice. Very Catena profile.

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  10/18/2022 - thwacker Likes this wine: 90 Points

  Wine is rich with notes of chocolate-covered blueberies on the palate. the bouquet is fragrant with mint and parsley overtones. Love it!

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