Nicolas Catena Zapata Blend 2021

Score: 97 Points James Suckling

Description:

With its first vintage in 1997, Nicolás Catena Zapata became Argentina’s first luxury cuvée to be exported worldwide. This wine pays tribute to the "Original Bordeaux Blend" of the 18th and 19th centuries, when Malbec had a dominant presence over Merlot and was on equal footing with Cabernet Sauvignon in the Médoc. Crafted from massal selections of pre-phylloxera, ungrafted Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon vines, this wine is a journey into the past from the high-altitude vineyards of Mendoza, Argentina. Its aromatic complexity and elegant structure position it as an icon of Argentine viticulture.

Technical Sheet

• Winery: Catena Zapata

• Score: 97 Points James Suckling

• Type: Red

• Vintage: 2021

• Varietal: Blend

• Composition: 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Malbec, 10% Cabernet Franc

• Vineyards:

  • Adrianna Cru (Gualtallary, Uco Valley): Calcareous soil with gravels, 17 hectares, planted in 1992 at 1,450 meters above sea level.
  • Nicasia Cru (Paraje Altamira, Uco Valley): Large gravel mixed with sand and loam, 15 hectares, planted in 1996 at 1,095 meters above sea level.

• Aging: 18 months in French oak barrels

• Winemakers: Alejandro Vigil and Fernando Buscema

• Alcohol Content: 13.7%

• Total Acidity: 5.4 g/l

• pH: 3.65

• Serving Temperature: 16 to 18°C (60-64°F)

• Country: Argentina

• Pairing: Roasted red meats, braised lamb, aged cheeses, pasta with rich sauces, and spiced dishes.

• Aging Potential: Over 15 years

Winemaking Process:

The harvest is done manually, and fermentation takes place in small oak barrels, concrete, and stainless steel tanks at controlled temperatures between 26 and 28°C (79-82°F) for approximately 15 days. Total maceration lasts between 18 and 22 days, followed by natural malolactic fermentation.

Winery Description

Catena Zapata, a historic family winery founded in 1902, is currently led by third and fourth-generation vintners Nicolás and his daughter Laura Catena. Nicolás Catena Zapata is known as the man who revolutionized Argentine wine in the 1980s by focusing primarily on quality. He planted vineyards at 1,500 meters above sea level and played a key role in reviving Malbec – a nearly forgotten French varietal – in the global wine industry.

Catena Zapata and Nicolás Catena Zapata have received numerous awards, including Decanter's Man of the Year, The Wine Spectator’s Distinguished Service Award, and Winery of the Year from various international publications.