2020 Malbec Argentino
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Tasting notes
Full half bottle 681 g. Nicasia vineyard (planted in 1996 in La Consulta District) and Angélica vineyard (planted in 1930 in Lunlunta District). Hand-picked. 20% whole cluster, 80% whole berry, ambient yeast. Fermented in 225- to 500-litre French oak barrels for 28 days. Aged in French oak for 18 months. TA 6.05 g/l, pH 3.6. Lushly sweet, stony spine. Cool and warm. Plush and unyielding. Anise and plum. Kohl-rimmed, dusky, husky, musk-scented seduction. Peonies and summer rain on stones at midnight. Gleaming obsidian. (TC)
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Tamlyn Currin, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
The 2020 Catena Zapata Malbec Argentino follows the path of the 2019, harvested early and fermented with 100% full clusters in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts and matured in oak vats and some barrels for 12 to 18 months. It's juicy, powerful and with abundant tannins and a slight earthiness. It's a little more voluptuous and mixes grapes from Angélica (Lunlunta) and some from Nicasia (Altamira). 45,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in November 2021.
Fruit sourced from Nicasia vineyard (planted in 1996 in La Consulta District) and Angélica vineyard (planted in 1930 in Lunlunta District). Hand-picked. 20% whole cluster, 80% whole berry, ambient yeast. Fermented in 225- to 500-litre French oak barrels for 28 days. Aged in French oak for 18 months. TA 6.05 g/l, pH 3.6. Rich, sweet-fruited nose with black cherry and blackberry. Rich fruit continues on the palate, complemented by heavy spice and vanilla flavours. Fine, dusty tannins, mouth-watering acidity, medium-plus in length. Classic in terms of typicality but of superior quality. Pricey. (SCJ)
About the producer
Bodega Catena Zapata has been instrumental both in the development of fine wine production in Argentina and in realising the full potential of the Malbec grape.