2008 Catena Zapata Malbec Argentino (Pre-Arrival Sale)

Wine Advocate
"97 pts ... The 2008 Argentino Malbec is a blend of 65% Adrianna and 35% Nicasia fruit. It, too, spent 24 months in 100% new French oak. The Argentino offers a similar aromatic and flavor profile but with just a bit of extra nuance, presumably because of the blending. Dense, rich, and voluptuous, this lengthy effort should easily achieve its 20th birthday in peak form. It will be most enjoyable to taste these three wines side-by-side in another 10-15 years."

Winemaker's Notes
"The Catena Zapata Malbec Argentino 2008 shows a saturated dark violet color; the nose offers cassis, mocha and clove, along with a strong suggestion of soil tones. It combines density and sweetness on the one hand, with gripping, lightly saline flavors of tobacco, dark berries, spices and minerals; a palate-staining finish dominated by sweet black and blue fruits."

Technical Notes
"Catena Zapata Malbec Argentino is made from a meticulous vine selection in the best lots of the Catena family’s Adrianna and Nicasia estate vineyards. These Zapata vines are carefully hand tended and produce extremely low yields. The grapes are micro-fermented in new French oak barriques and the wine is then aged for 24 months in new French oak. This wine is made in very limited quantities. 14.5% alc."