CATENA ZAPATA | Paraje Altamira | Malbec | 2020
malbec
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Family vintners for over 100 years, the Catena’s are recognized for their pioneering role in high-altitude viticulture and in leading Argentina’s malbec revolution. In the 1950’s, Don Domingo Catena began sourcing malbec grapes from the vineyards of La Consulta. The combination of intense sunlight and cool nights resulted in a wine that Domingo Catena prized for its deep purple color, vibrant black fruit aromatics and velvety-rich tannins – a wine that might be considered as the blueprint for argentinian high-altitude malbec.
Today we are going to review a genuine, single-varietal and single-vineyard malbec wine from the world’s famous Mendoza appellation of Argentina – Paraje Altamira Malbec 2020 by Catena Zapata. Known for its plump, dark fruit flavors and smoky finish, malbec wines have been adored for centuries, especially by the royal houses of England and Russia. With elegant notes of blueberry, plum, tobacco and hints of violets, modern malbec offers a great alternative to its higher priced siblings: merlot, cabernet sauvignon or syrah. Although the malbec variety originated in the famous Cahors region of France, Argentina proved that there’s more to malbec than just value, as it can offer an unmatched complexity and elegance, if produced in an expressive new-world style, with a nuanced and juicy, fruit-forward character. The grapes for this wine were sourced from the slopes of Paraje Altamira vineyard, planted at high altitude on loam-rich soils of alluvial origin, with gravel and sand subsoil. In order to preserve the varietal characteristics of the malbec grapes and those delicate, terroir-driven notes, the wine has been aged only for 8 months in french oak barriques, from which only 35% new oak, the rest, barrels at second and third fill. That said and without further ado, let’s take a look at the wine tasting results.
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Take a look at the tasting notes below and our detailed assessment of the wine:
//Visual
color: deep ruby color
clarity: hazy indigo hues on the rim
//Olfactory
intensity: pronounced | fruity-vibrant
fruit character: ripe
On the first nose, this wine unveils a vibrant and juicy fruit character that immediately captures attention. The foreground is dominated by a vibrant tapestry of ripe black and blue fruits, showcasing the richness of blueberry, blackberry and dark cherry, supported by nuanced, spicy hints of peppercorn, cloves and nutmeg, that contribute to the wine’s aromatic complexity. The background reveals a delicate earthy layer, with notes of soil dust, pencil lead and petrichor, enriched by subtle, oak-derived aromas, offering notes of sweet tobacco and toasted oakwood, with a touch of violets that adds sophistication to the wine’s aromatic profile. This wine delivers a delightful olfactory experience that harmoniously balances malbec’s vibrancy with the genuine charm of Paraje Altamira terroir, delivering the much desired savory intrigue.
//Palate
sweetness: dry | acidity: high | alcohol: medium+ | tannin: medium+ | balance: good
finish: medium+ | aftertaste: crisp & seedy
On the palate, this wine delivers elegance and finesse with its vibrant fruit character and that charming interplay of ripe, black and blue fruits. On the mouthfeel the wine displays bright acidity and fine-grained tannins that invigorates the senses and forms a velvety texture. A touch of nicely-integrated alcoholic warmth adds depth and structure, thus enhancing the wine’s ample body. This is a quite round, plush and voluptuous wine that culminates with a crisp and seedy aftertaste, that lingers pleasantly. The interplay of subtle, oak-derived notes and terroir-driven flavours adds an extra layer of sophistication to the wine’s already rich and vibrant flavour profile. This is a wine that offers harmony and finesse, making it an excellent choice for those who are looking for a genuine and honest representation of Mendoza’s terroir.
//Verdict
maturity: developing | drink now or in the next 2-3 years
verdict: great | a must try wine | a wine that has all the traits to become legendary
Despite its voluptuous and ample character, the wine feels surprisingly harmonious and vibrant. All in all, this is a blueprint, terroir-driven wine that manages to reflect the true expression of the malbec grape variety and can be considered a quintessential representation of the very best that Mendoza‘s terroir can offer. The interplay between the vibrant fruit, sweet spice and subtle earthy tones, reflects the region’s unique climate and soil conditions. While it may benefit from some additional bottle aging, there is no doubts that this wine can be also be enjoyed today without sacrificing too much of its ageing potential. This is a fine wine that will suit those wine connoisseurs, who are looking for a top-quality malbec, which embodies the essence of its origin and which can delve into the realm of elegance.
//Scoring
CATENA ZAPATA | Paraje Altamira | Malbec | 2020
variety: malbec
country: Argentina
region: Mendoza | Paraje Altamira
rating: 94.2
//Prediction
predicted rating: 91
actual rating: 92
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This is definitely a great wine of Argentina and, with a total of 94.2 points scored, this wine is right there, among the best wines we’ve rated so far. Check our complete database on the wine rating page, where you can find all the wines that we have tasted and reviewed or go to the about us page and find out more about our exquisite rating system.
Pairing: Judging by the wine’s vibrant and rich flavor profile and its terroir-driven delicacy, we would recommend to pair it with Tournedos Rossini or grilled angus beef steak. The wine’s rich and velvety mouthfeel, coupled with its ripe, black and blue fruit character, will harmonize lovely with the succulent tenderness of the steak, while the earthy undertones and those subtle oak-derived notes in the wine will complement the grilled flavours of the meat, enhancing the overall pairing complexity. In the same key, the bright acidity and crisp aftertaste of the wine, will provide a refreshing contrast to the silky texture of the angus meat, creating a truly hedonistic tasting experience. Enjoy!
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© The WineStatistics ratings are based solely on our own knowledge of the world of wine and on our personal wine tastes, which may, or may not, differ from yours – the reader. Just remember that there are no absolutes of right and wrong in wine appreciation.
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By training ourselves to stop, take a breath, and pay attention to the subtle elements that distinguish one wine from any other, we learn an important lesson about life – that it’s worth taking the time to slow down and appreciate things that pleases us, from a glass of wine to a great work of art. It’s a simple way to learn to appreciate the little things in life that may in some small way enhance our enjoyment of every day.
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WineStatistics is a non-profit community. We produce independent and highly detailed wine reviews.
By training ourselves to stop, take a breath, and pay attention to the subtle elements that distinguish one wine from any other, we learn an important lesson about life – that it’s worth taking the time to slow down and appreciate things that pleases us, from a glass of wine to a great work of art. It’s a simple way to learn to appreciate the little things in life that may in some small way enhance our enjoyment of every day.
In order to continue our work we need support from people like you. People who appreciate our contribution in spreading wine knowledge and raising wine awareness across the borders.
You may now support us by contributing with a monthly donation so that we can review even more wines.
WineStatistics is a non-profit community. We produce independent and highly detailed wine reviews.
By training ourselves to stop, take a breath, and pay attention to the subtle elements that distinguish one wine from any other, we learn an important lesson about life – that it’s worth taking the time to slow down and appreciate things that pleases us, from a glass of wine to a great work of art. It’s a simple way to learn to appreciate the little things in life that may in some small way enhance our enjoyment of every day.
In order to continue our work we need support from people like you. People who appreciate our contribution in spreading wine knowledge and raising wine awareness across the borders.
You may now support us by contributing with a yearly donation so that we can review even more wines.
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