Catena Zapata
Catena Zapata Nicasia Vineyards Malbec 2018 0,75 l
Catena Zapata Nicasia Vineyards Malbec 2018 0,75 l
Regular price
80,00 €
Regular price
Sale price
80,00 €
Unit price
per
Taxes included.
Mendoza
100% Malbec
Matured in oak barrels
14%
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On the nose, the wine reveals a rich, dark fruit profile – ripe black plums, blackberries, and blackcurrants intertwined with subtle notes of violet blossoms, graphite, and soft tobacco. Oak aging imparts elegant nuances of cedar, cocoa, and light sweet spices, yet the fruit remains central. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and structured, with firm yet ripe and well-integrated tannins. The acidity provides balance and verticality, so even with its concentration, the wine retains a sense of freshness. The ripeness of the fruit is complemented by minerality and hints of dark chocolate. The finish is long, concentrated, and elegant, with a clearly defined structure and refined character.
About the manufacturer
Nicolás Catena Zapata – a Columbia University economics graduate who later taught as a visiting professor at the University of California, Berkeley, where academic rigor and analytical thinking shaped his strategic approach to winemaking. During his travels through Napa Valley and Sonoma County in the 1980s, he became fascinated by how Californian winemakers were crafting world-class, structured, and long-lived wines. His friendship with Robert Mondavi became a crucial turning point – Mondavi encouraged him to believe that Argentina could also achieve the same high level of quality. This inspired vision prompted Nicolás to return to Mendoza and begin producing high-altitude wines that, with their concentration, elegance, and structure, could rival the best examples from California.
Laura Catena is one of the most influential figures in contemporary Argentinian wine, having successfully united science, family tradition, and a global vision. As a physician and a Stanford-educated doctor, she brought an analytical, research-based approach to the wine world, which fundamentally redefined the potential of Argentina's high-altitude Malbec. Leading Catena Zapata, she continues her family's pioneering work in Mendoza, focusing particularly on clarifying the identity of high-altitude vineyards – especially those at the foot of the Andes. Laura Catena is often called the "face of Argentinian wine to the world" – she actively speaks at international conferences, writes about the importance of terroir, and purposefully strives to demonstrate that Argentina can produce not only powerful but also elegant, structurally refined wines.