Description
Founded in 1902 by Italian Nicola Catena, Catena Zapata is Argentina’s oldest winery still in the founding family’s hands. The winery architecture is distinguished by its Mayan-inspired pyramid design. Catena Zapata is known for its pioneering role in resurrecting the Malbec grape and in discovering extreme high-altitude terroirs in the Andean foothills of Mendoza. Following in her father Nicolás Catena Zapata’s footsteps, fourth-generation vintner Dr. Laura Catena leads the winery and its think-tank, the Catena Institute of Wine. The institute, founded by Dr. Catena in 1995, collaborates with local and foreign universities and has the ambitious mission of advancing Argentina’s winemaking regions for another 200 years. Its research is published in peer reviewed international journals and shared with the wider world wine community. Today, the Catena sisters, Laura and Adrianna, lead the way in preserving Argentina’s old vines and the country’s ungrafted, massale Malbec heritage.
About this wine: Family matriarch Angélica Zapata, a fierce educator and headmistress of the local country school, instilled a culture of study, hard work and reflection on generations of the Catena family. Although Angélica died young, she transmitted to her children her vision that Argentina’s natural resources and that people were destined for greatness. Her son, Nicolás Catena Zapata, is responsible for Argentine wine finding a place among the best wines in the world.
Angélica Zapata Malbec 2021 offers berry, chocolate and hazelnut flavours. Subtle complexity. Savory finish.
From the winemakers about this vintage: “100% Malbec grown Angélica Vineyard, Lunlunta, Maipú: 3116 ft (920m) alluvial origin. Loamy clay in the topsoil with rounded rocks on the bottom. And Angélica Sur Vineyard, Eugenio Bustos, San Carlos: 3576ft (1100m). Sandy loam with presence of gravel and limestone.
“What we appreciate about 2021 is how even the weather was throughout Mendoza – overall a bit cooler than average. The yields for white varieties were low due to the October frost. Yields for red varieties were normal, with good concentration, moderate sugars and optimal acidity. Fortunately, there were no important hail events.
“This wine goes through an extensive cold maceration for around 3-7 days at less than 50ºF (10ºC) to extract aromas. The juice is then fermented for approximately 12-18 days with a total maceration of 16-30 days. Wild Yeasts. Elevage: 18-24 months in French Oak barrel. First (70%), second (20%) and third (10%) use barrels.” 14% alc.
RRP $87 Our Special Price $70.99 when you buy 6 or more of this wine
