Other Reds
Roll over: Wine Spectator Wine of the Year 2023 Brunello is the soul, the identity of Argiano: elegance, finesse and, at the same time, structure and long aging.
Rose, strawberry and cherry aromas and flavors are the main themes in this red, along with wild herb, mineral and cut hay accents. Racy and full of energy, with a long, saturated finish. Best from 2025 through 2042. 9,400 cases made Jun 2023 95 points Wine Spectator Wine of the Year 2023
Roll over Bodega Catena Zapata is one of the foremost wine estates in Mendoza
The juicy and peachy 2020 Malbec Catena Zapata Nicasia Vineyard in Paraje Altamira is the result of a warm year in a warmish place, but the wine shows no excess and comes through as balanced, slightly riper and rounder than the 2019 I tasted next to it but keeping the poise and elegance. It has a medium to full-bodied palate with juicy and abundant tannins. 20,004 bottles produced. It was bottled in November 2021. RP96 The Wine Advocate
Roll over: Old vine Argentinian Malbec
The very young but already harmonious 2021 Catena Zapata Malbec Argentino has one of the showier labels from the Catena portfolio. 2021 was a cooler year, as cold as 2016, but instead of a wet year like 2016, it was dry. The wine is juicy and reveals a vibrant palate and very clean and focused aromas and flavors. It's clean and precise with varietal aromas of violets, ripe berries and herbs and a spicy touch from the élevage in oak. It's another great vintage for this blend of grapes from the vineyards of Angélica (Lunlunta) and Nicasia (Altamira). It's nicely textured and tasty, medium to full-bodied and with a vibrant finish. 60,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in July 2022. RP96 Robert Parker.com
Roll over Bodega Catena Zapata is one of the foremost wine estates in Mendoza
Few red wines can rival grand Argentinian Malbec for drama and grandeur, and this version from the Altamira zone of La Consulta (in the Uco Valley) stood out even amongst its dramatic, strikingly profiled peers. It is jet black, just shot with purple at the rim. Soaringly expressive Malbec rose and tea leaf lifts from the glass with enviable purity, without a trace of distorting oak. In the mouth, it is deep and long: an arrow of fruit yet elegant, deftly textured with a snow of fine tannins, and devoid of alcoholic heat or intrusive, strenuous acidity. A sumptuous, haute-couture Malbec where the vineyard’s untrammeled fruit and inner radiance has been given voice. Decanter
