2018 Catena Zapata Nicolas Catena Zapata, Mendoza

Aromas of blackberries, grilled meat, blackcurrants and wet earth. Full-bodied, tight and compact with dense dark berries and currants. Linear and long with a tight, focused palate. A blend of cabernet sauvignon and malbec.

96 points jamessuckling.com

Made with grapes from pre-phylloxera massal selections of Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec from the Uco Valley, this blend from Catena Zapata was fermented in oak, cement and steel and aged for 18 months in barrels. It has a complex nose of red and dark fruit, sweet spices, notes of Earl Grey tea, gunpowder, cedar, violets and eucalyptus. Broad and free-flowing, the compact core offers fine tannins and intriguing cellar potential

96 points decanter.com

The 2018 Nicolás Catena Zapata was produced with 65% Cabernet Sauvignon from Gualtallary (Adrianna vineyard, with the Cabernet Sauvignon interplanted with some Cabernet Franc) and 35% Malbec from Altamira (Nicasia vineyard). They no longer use grapes from Agrelo, and this is also a lot higher in Malbec than in other recent vintages. So, it has a very different profile, a change that started in 2017, with more contained ripeness and more freshness, and the wine is intense, keeping some of the Cabernet character (tobacco, blackberries) and the floral notes from Malbec. It comes through as balanced and harmonious, with very fine tannins and a long finish and perfect ripeness. This aims to revive the style of Bordeaux before phylloxera, from massal selection of ungrafted vines... 62,400 bottles produced. It was bottled in December 2019

97 points Luis Gutierrez robertparker.com Apr 2021 Drink 2021-2028

Created as a tribute to Nicolás Catena Zapata and his pioneering role in elevating Argentine wine to the world stage, this flagship blend represents the pinnacle of the Catena philosophy. Sourced from select high altitude vineyards across Mendoza, the wine combines Malbec with Cabernet Sauvignon in a style inspired by great Bordeaux, yet unmistakably shaped by Andean terroir. Intense sunlight, cool nights and stony, well drained soils deliver concentration, freshness and refined structure, while meticulous selection and extended ageing build depth and longevity. This is a wine designed to showcase power with precision, and it has become one of South America’s most collectible and critically acclaimed reds.

Deep ruby to inky purple in colour, the aromas are layered and complex, revealing blackcurrant, blackberry and dark plum, followed by cedar, graphite, cocoa and subtle tobacco. The palate is full bodied and commanding, with dense dark fruit, firm yet polished tannins and a bright acid spine that gives lift and length. There is a seamless integration of oak and fruit, creating a long, structured finish that speaks to its serious cellaring intent. Exceptional with premium beef, lamb, venison, rich stews and aged hard cheeses. While impressive now with extended decanting, it is built to cellar for twenty to thirty years, evolving toward greater savoury, truffle and cigar box complexity.