2009 Catena Zapata Malbec

Wine Advocate
"91 pts ... The 2009 Catena Malbec was aged in 35% new French and American barriques for 14 months. Balsam wood, earthy minerals, spice box, lavender, and black cherry aromas compose the wine’s inviting bouquet. Spicy and savory in the glass, with ample black cherry and black raspberry flavors, this nicely proportioned Malbec is an outstanding value meant for drinking over the next 4-5 years."--12/11

Wine Spectator
"91 pts, #58 2011 Top 100 ... 'Smart Buy" A rich red, with ripe flavors of linzer torte, plum pudding and fig paste flavors by layers of mesquite, olive paste and grilled herbs. Grippy tannins add weight to the long, vibrant finish."

Winemaker's Notes
"The 2009 Catena Malbec presents a dark, violet color with deep black tones. This microclimate blend of four unique vineyard sites offers intense aromas with a soft generous texture and concentrated flavors. Angelica vineyard lends ripe plum and chocolate flavors with a very soft, supple mouthfeel. La Consulta vineyard brings a core of black currant and cassis, with excellent structure and length. La Piramide vineyard offers blackberry fruit with a slight earthy tone and notes of spicy black pepper. Finally, the Adrianna vineyard lends exceptional concentration with explosive floral aromatics. Together they give birth to a complex blend of aromas and flavors - a wine with excellent concentration, balance and freshness."

Technical Notes
"Each vineyard site enjoys its own soil variations and microclimates. Nicolas and his team have carefully studied the effects of these microclimates on the grapes from each vineyard. They discovered that the same varietal, and even the same clone, presents truly distinct aromatic and flavor characteristics when grown in different microclimates. Implementing the age-old "art of assemblage," Nicolas found that by blending different lots of the same varietal, he could create a more intense and complex wine. As great artists tap their creative spirit to mix and match colors for a final work of art, the team at Bodega Catena Zapata use their creativity in the intricate process of blending grapes in order to craft the final wine. Aging / Barrels : 12 months in 75% French oak, 20% new French oak and 15% new American oak. Fermentation : Selected yeast, max temp. ferm. 82 F for 16 days, 32 day maceration. Alcohol : 13.8% vol. Total Acidity : 5.40 pH : 3.70"