Bodega Catena Zapata 'Nicolás Catena Zapata' 2020

Founded in 1902 by Italian Nicola Catena, Catena Zapata is Argentina’s oldest winery still in the founding family’s hands. The winery architecture is distinguished by its Mayan-inspired pyramid design. Catena Zapata is known for its pioneering role in resurrecting the Malbec grape and in discovering extreme high-altitude terroirs in the Andean foothills of Mendoza. Following in her father Nicolás Catena Zapata’s footsteps, fourth-generation vintner Dr. Laura Catena leads the winery and its think-tank, the Catena Institute of Wine.  The institute, founded by Dr. Catena in 1995, collaborates with local and foreign universities and has the ambitious mission of advancing Argentina’s winemaking regions for another 200 years. Its research is published in peer reviewed international journals and shared with the wider world wine community.  Today, the Catena sisters, Laura and Adrianna, lead the way in preserving Argentina’s old vines and the country’s ungrafted, massale Malbec heritage.  Catena Zapata’s Adrianna Vineyard has been awarded more 100-point ratings than any other South American winery, and in 2023, it was voted #1 World’s Best Vineyard by a group of 500 food, wine and travel writers (William Reed of 50 Best, World’s Best Vineyards Awards). 

Alejandro Vigil has Master’s Degrees in both Winemaking and Irrigation Management from Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. He began his professional career at the National Agricultural Technology Institute, taking over the Soil Analysis Department at 28 years old. Alejandro has been Chief Winemaker of Bodega Catena Zapata since 2002, receiving the first 100-point score awarded to a South American wine by Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate and the first 100-point score for an Argentine Chardonnay from James Suckling. He has been recognized as Winemaker of the Year by Tim Atkin and is president of Wines of Argentina.

54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Malbec, 25% Cabernet Franc, fermented in vertical open barriques & small stainless steel tanks. Age in barriques & small vats (100% new) for 24 months. Aged in bottle for 12-18 months.

“Cassis, tobacco, wet stones, iron and baking spices to the nose, showing class, restraint and complexity. Medium-to-full-bodied on the palate with super fine tannins. Dry, super elegant and silky with a lengthy, polished finish. Really Bordeaux-like. Juicy and long. 54% Cabernet Sauvignon from Gualtallary, 25% Cabernet Franc from Altamira and 21% Malbec from both areas. The highest portion of cabernet franc this year helped retain its nervy freshness! This is classy and beautiful.” - 98 Points, James Suckling

“The 2020 Nicolás Catena Zapata is a blend composed of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Malbec and 20% Cabernet Franc sourced from Paraje Altamira in the Uco Valley. It was carefully aged for up to 16 months in French oak barrels. Garnet in hue. The nose reveals captivating cassis, rose, blackberry, plum and fig aromas harmoniously combined with dried flowers. The palate presents a dry and ample profile, with fine-grained tannins and a juicy flow that leads to a vibrant mouthfeel, brimming with energy. This meticulously crafted red achieves precise balance in a warm vintage.” - 96 Points, Vinous

“2020 was a very dry and low-yielding year, with 20% to 30% less crop, and the grapes were picked early. The 2020 Nicolás Catena Zapata was produced with a blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc and 21% Malbec, higher in Franc than ever, for the first time more than Malbec, to compensate the warm and dry conditions. The wine is ripe and very peppery, with 13.9% alcohol and a pH of 3.64. It matured in new and second-use French oak barrels for 18 months. It was a healthy crop with concentration and ripeness, and the wine comes through as powerful and quite classical, still a little oaky, with power and balance.” - 95 Points, Wine Advocate

Producer: Bodega Catena Zapata

Country: Argentina

Region: Mendoza

Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot

Appellation: Mendoza

Vintage: 2020

Size: 750ml