Category:
 
Red Wines
Sub-Category:  
 
Red Wines
Producer:
 
Catena Zapata
Label Name:
 
Nicolas Zapata Cab Malbec
Vintage:
 
2011
Country:
 
Argentina
Region:
 
Mendoza (La Pirámide - Luján de Cuyo; Adrianna - Uco Valley; Nicasia - Altamira/La Consulta)
Volume:
 
750ml
ABV:
 
14%
Grape(s):
 
Cabernet Sauvignon (80%), Malbec (20%)
Method:
 
Hand-harvested; 10% whole-cluster, 90% whole-berry; 100% barrel fermentation in 225–500L French oak (wild yeasts); 24 months in French oak (majority new); bottled unfined/unfiltered.
Acidity:
 
4
Tannins:
 
5
Sweetness:
 
1
Body:
 
5
Length:
 
5
Aroma Intensity:
 
5
Best Temperature:
 
16-18
Tasting Note:
 
Concentrated black fruits (cassis, black cherry, plum) with dark chocolate, tobacco, black olive, violet and mineral notes; powerful, firm dusty tannins and long saline finish with hints of mint and spice.
Food Pairing:
 
Grilled ribeye, roast lamb, beef short ribs, Argentine asado with chimichurri; beef empanadas; Korean BBQ (galbi), char siu / Cantonese roast pork, Peking duck, rich mushroom and soy-based dishes.
Vineyard Info:
 
Bodega Catena Zapata, family estate since 1902, pioneered high-altitude Mendoza viticulture. Nicolás Catena Zapata is the estate's flagship Cabernet–Malbec blend; winemaker Alejandro Vigil oversees production.
Awards/Ratings:
 
The Wine Advocate 95 pts; Vinous 94+; James Suckling 95; Wine & Spirits 93; Wine Spectator ~94; Falstaff 95