Bodega Catena Zapata - Malbec Argentino 2022

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.

Dr. Nicolás Catena Zapata revolutionized Argentine wine in the 1980s by exploring extreme high-altitude terroirs in the Andean foothills of Mendoza. He discovered their potential for producing wines—Malbec in particular—that could stand with the best in the world. In the mid-1990s, Nicolás was joined by his daughter, Dr. Laura Catena.

Today, the Catena Family holds more 100-point wine ratings than any other winery in South America and has received numerous “best winery” awards from wine publications worldwide. Catena is certified Sustainable by Bodegas de Argentina and conducts extensive research on soil, terroir, and ancient clones.

Mendoza is Argentina’s largest and most well-known winemaking region. About 80 percent of Argentina’s wine is produced in Mendoza, which contains more vineyard acreage than the regions of Bordeaux, Burgundy, and Napa Valley combined.

Since the 1980s, Mendoza has become a leader in producing outstanding wines, largely thanks to economist and winemaker Nicolás Catena. He spearheaded the push for investment and research to improve Argentine wine quality and helped establish Malbec as Argentina’s signature grape. It was initially used as a blending grape in southwest France and was prominent in Bordeaux blends prior to the nineteenth-century phylloxera epidemic. It was primarily replaced with replantings of Merlot in Bordeaux and found its true home in Mendoza.

100% Malbec, fermented in vertical open barriques & small stainless steel tanks. Aged 24 months in 100% new barrique, with an additional 12-18 months in bottle.

“Elegant and perfumed nose with violets, spices, fresh blackberries, blueberries and touches of chiles, chocolate, cigar box and white pepper. Super juicy on the palate with compact, fine tannins and an extremely long finish.” - 98 Points, James Suckling

“Argentino is an equal blend of Malbecs from the Angelica Vineyard in Lunlunta and the Nicasia Vineyard in Paraje Altamira. Matured in foudres and one-tird new wood, it’s a rich, supple, glossy style with a touch of whole bunch spices, succulent bramble, blackberry and raspberry coulis flavours and fine-grained, savoury tannins.” - 94 Points, Tim Atkin

“The 2022 Malbec Argentino combines destemmed fruit from Lunlunta's Angelica Vineyard and Nicasia Vineyard in Altamira, and it was fermented with whole clusters. It leads with a rich, savory, black-fruited nose, introducing a similarly assertive and voluptuous palate. It concludes with a lush, staining and drying finish that retains the fine-grained precision that runs through the Catena Zapata roster.” - 93 Points, Robert Parker

Producer: Bodega Catena Zapata

Country: Argentina

Region: Mendoza

Varietal: Malbec

Appellation: Mendoza

Vintage: 2022

Size: 750ml