2020 Catena Zapata Nicasia Malbec, Mendoza

A mixture of black and blue fruit, very perfumed and elegant. Cherries, plums and blueberries with a peppery undertone. Crushed violets, too. Bone-dry on the palate with abundant, silky tannins and a juicy, lengthy finish. Drinkable now, but better from 2026.

97 points Zekun Shuai jamessuckling.com March 2023

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 ro under 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. Drink 2024-2030.

96 points Luis Gutierrez robertparker.com December 2022

The 2020 Malbec Catena Zapata Nicasia Vineyard was fermented in barrels, 10% with stems and finished in used foudres. Purple in color. The nose offers notes of violet, lavender, plum and hints of sour cherry followed by aromas from the aging process which enhance the next wave of mint and orange peel. Fluid with gentle, well-polished tannins and a delicate expression, the flow is juicy and expansive before the languorous finish. A well-made wine for 2020.

96 points Joaquín Hidalgo vinous.com September 2022

The Nicasia vineyard is located at an altitude of 1,095 m in the far southerly growing region of Altamira en La Consulta in the Uco Valley of Mendoza.

It is the only vineyard in this region planted to the Catena Selection of Malbec cuttings. The well-draining soils feature very shallow loamy topsoils with surface gravel, and gravelly (large stones) dry river bed subsoils.

The wine goes through an extensive cold maceration at less than 10ºC to extract aromas. Vintage pending, the juice is then fermented for around 18-22 days with a post-fermentation maceration of approximately 23-29 days. Maturation takes place in French Oak barrel 16-21 months.