Today we share the story of Catena Zapata, one of the finest producers of Malbec and Chardonnay in Argentina. The story begins with the long journey of Nicola Catena who sailed from Italy to Argentina in 1898. Nicola is known for planting his first Malbec vineyard back in 1902. Malbec had previously been a blending grape in Bordeaux and Nicola and he saw its potential in high-elevation Mendoza.
Nicola’s grandson, Nicolas, took over the winery in the 1960s but was faced with inflation and political turmoil in Argentina, so he took a job as a visiting economics professor at UC Berkeley. He then came back to Argentina and wanted to focus on the winery, deciding to plant Chardonnay and Malbec at a 5,000 feet elevation. This was an unusual vineyard practice at the time but the risk paid off. Soon Nicolas was crafting incredible wines from these vines that became blind tasted ahead of epic wine projects like Chateau Latour and Opus One.
In 2001 Nicolas' daughter Dr. Laura Catena took over the Research & Development program at Bodega Catena Zapata. An Emergency Room physician, with degrees from Harvard and Stanford, Dr. Laura Catena brought a very strong science background to the family winery's R&D project. She immediately set about working with the high altitude Malbec that her father had planted and has achieved incredible success at the winery since taking over. I have met Dr. Catena many times and she is an incredible person who has done wonders for her brand. I first started tasting Catena wines twenty years ago and they have been a pillar of quality. At the helm is the Malbec Magician, Alexander Vigil. Vigil came to Bodega Catena Zapata in 2002 as head of Research & Development. In 2003 he joined the enology department and he has served as winemaker for many years now.
The new wines by Catena Zapata are incredible across the board. Look to their sensational 2019 Catena Zapata ‘White Bones’ Chardonnay (OB, 97). This was an absolutely epic Chardonnay that shows insanely good terroir with its salty and stony tones. I am enamored by the new 2019 Catena Zapata ‘Nicolas Catena Zapata’ Red Wine (OB, 96) which is dense, chewy and hedonistic — a delight to savor now and over twenty years. Learn more about these wonderful wines at http://www.catenawines.com Here are the gorgeous new releases from Catena
2019 Catena Zapata ‘White Stones Adrianna Vineyard’ Chardonnay- One of the unique wines from this region, the 2019 Catena Zapata ‘White Stones Adrianna Vineyard’ Chardonnay comes from a select 27 rows within Block 1 of the Adrianna Vineyard which is set on small, oval white stones. Wonderfully stony and flinty on the palate, this shows a gorgeous combination of depth, tension and length, with a finish that just won’t quit. Lemon peel flavors combine with pastry crust and shades of green apple with wet stone all combine on the palate. This is a wonderful foil for top Chablis and do not serve cold. Drink 2023-2035- 96
2019 Catena Zapata ‘White Bones Adrianna Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The 2019 Catena Zapata ‘White Bones Adrianna Vineyard’ Chardonnay a knockout wine by winemaker Alexander Vigil. One of the great white wines made in Argentina, the ‘White Bones’ come from a site in the Arianna Vineyard that has many limestone deposits and fossilized animal bones. This comes off wonderfully stony on the nose with white pepper, peat moss, lemon oil and shades of black truffle. The palate is concentrated, showing gobs of minerality and a minute-long finish. Kudos to the Catena winemaking team on this masterpiece. Drink 2023-2035- 97
2019 Catena Zapata ‘Nicolas Catena Zapata’ Red Wine- The insanely good 2019 ‘Nicolas Catena Zapata’ combines Cabernet Sauvignon (42%) with Malbec (30%) and the remainder Cabernet Franc (28%). The nose shows incredible herbal tones with red bell pepper and garrigue notes alongside a great melange of black and blue fruits. The palate is soft and refined with silky tannins that frame a core of wet stone, anise, creme de cassis, and beef drippings. Complex and delicious, this easily will live on for another fifteen to twenty years. Drink 2023-2039- 96
2021 Catena Zapata ‘River Stones Adrianna Vineyard’ Malbec- A massive wine that has serious depth and concentration, the incredible 2021 Catena Zapata ‘River Adrianna Vineyard’ Malbec comes from a site set on an ancient riverbed. Violets covered with chocolate cake, espresso grounds, anise and exotic spices all fill the nose. The mouth is silky and rich with a seamless texture. Heady, yet quite weightless, this beauty shows intense terroir with the stony undercurrents. There is nothing quite like this in the world. Drink 2023-2042- 97
2021 Catena Zapata ‘Fortuna Terrae Adrianna Vineyard’ Malbec- The 2017 ‘Fortuna Terrae’ Malbec is sourced from a site in the Arianna Vineyard with deep loamy soils. Inky in the glass, this offers huckleberry and tar notes on the nose with shades of wet rock and espresso grounds. The palate is lithe and polished wth refined tannins that frame a core of massive blue and black fruits. This is just a joy to consume now, as this beauty will live on for another fifteen plus years to come. There are light herbal tones on the nose that combine with violets, blackberry cordial and mocha tones. Drink 2023-2038- 96
2020 Catena Zapata ‘Nicasia Vineyard’ Malbec- The ‘Nicasia Vineyard is set In La Consulta, due south from the Uco Valley, as this location is need after Nicolas Catina’s grandmother and has vines that are up to 90 years of age. Very brooding in the glass, the 2020 ‘Nicasia Vineyard’ offers hedonistic blueberry compote, Turkish coffee, pencil lead and sandalwood tones on the palate, with salty and stony undercurrents. Complex and rich, with serious nuance, this has some beautiful aging potential considering its poise and weight. Drink 2023-2039- 97
2021 Catena Zapata ‘Argentino’ Malbec- The 2021 ‘Argentino’ comes from vines that are more than 100 years of age. Given 20% whole cluster fermentation, the wine was stored in small and large format French oak barrels before bottling. This quite literally bursts out of the glass with flavor. Anise, dark currant cordial, violets, blackberry pie and shades of Black Forest cake all brilliantly combine on the palate, with stony undertones. Complex, nuanced and extremely delicious, this beauty will cellar well for another twenty years. Drink 2023-2043- 97