CATENA ZAPATA | Lunlunta | Malbec | Old Vines | 2020
malbec
We will be evaluating wines in no particular order on no particular schedule. Just stay tuned and you will never miss our reviews. If the wine is tasted more than once, the rating table will be updated so as to reflect all the new impressions and observations.
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 – Lunlunta Malbec Old Vines 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 old malbec vines of the Lunlunta vineyard, planted at high altitude on sand-rich soils of alluvial origin, with round rocks with loam and silty-clay 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.
_________________________________________________________________________
Take a look at the tasting notes below and our detailed assessment of the wine:
//Visual
color: deep ruby color
clarity: hazy indigo shades on the rim
//Olfactory
intensity: pronounced | vibrant & smoky
fruit character: ripe
On the first nose, the wine is immediately captivating, offering a burst of ripe dark fruits, with notes of bitter cherries, juicy blackcurrants and dark plums, yet with a hint of richness that suggests some blueberry or blackberry. Woven throughout these primary aromas a subtle hint of earthiness can be detected, delivering notes of black soil and pencil lead. This earthy intrigue adds complexity and keeps the aromatic profile from feeling one-dimensional. In the background, whispers of spice emerge, offering a touch of warmth that hints at peppercorns and nutmeg. Some subtle oaky undertones emerge as well, with hints of charcoal, toasted oakwood and tobacco, but they don’t overwhelm the primary layer. Intriguingly, a touch of smokiness peeks through, adding a layer of extra complexity to the wine’s aromatic profile. This is a wine that suggests both power and elegance, with the primary fruit character harmoniously balanced by that earthy, spicy and smoky intrigue.
//Palate
sweetness: dry | acidity: high | alcohol: medium+ | tannin: medium+ | balance: good
finish: medium+ | aftertaste: crisp & seedy
The palate mirrors the nose, offering a wave of ripe dark fruit flavors that echo the aromas of dark cherry, black plums and blackberries. Hints of smoke and earthiness emerge here as well, adding even more complexity that complements the fruit without being overpowering. The crisp acidity cuts through the richness of the fruit, keeping the wine lively. The tannins are grippy and ripe, offering structure, however, an overwhelming touch of alcoholic warmth becomes quite apparent on the palate. Despite that warmth, the aftertaste itself remains crisp and finishes with a slightly seedy character. The overall mouthfeel is firm, grippy and very well-structured, suggesting a wine with good aging potential.
//Verdict
maturity: developing | drink now or in the next 2-3 years
verdict: fine | highly recommended | a wine of premium quality with good potential
Overall, this wine presents a captivating tasting experience with ripe dark fruit flavours accented by an intriguing layer of earthiness, all underscored by subtle oaky undertones. The palate follows suit, with a firm, grippy, and surprisingly rich mouthfeel, suggesting a well-structured wine. While powerful and complex, in its current state, the wine feels a touch heady and lacks a bit of finesse. It would definitely benefit from additional bottle aging to allow its elements to fully integrate and soften the grippy tannins, nevertheless, this is a very promising malbec wine with plenty of personality and some hints of terroir.
//Scoring
CATENA ZAPATA | Lunlunta | Malbec | Old Vines | 2020
variety: malbec
country: Argentina
region: Mendoza | Lunlunta
rating: 93.6
//Prediction
predicted rating: 90
actual rating: 92
_________________________________________________________________________
This is definitely a fine wine of Argentina and, with a total of 93.6 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: Due to this wine’s emphasis on ripe dark fruits, smoky and oaky notes, and a its firm structure, it would be perfectly suited for rich and flavorful dishes with bold flavors that can stand up to the wine’s power. Grilled angus beef steak or grilled lamb burger with harissa aioli sounds like a fantastic pairing. The smokiness from the barbecue would echo those smoky hints in the wine, while the richness of the angus beef and lamb would complement the wine’s terroir-driven earthy notes. In the same key, the wine’s bold character would pair lovely with the notes of the aioli, creating a harmonious interplay of flavors and textures. Needless to mention that the wine’s crisp acidity would cut through the richness of the meat, while the grippy tannins would stand up to the spice and grill smoke. This pairing would allow the wine’s boldness to shine through, while highlighting the richness of the food without being too insistent. Enjoy!
_________________________________________________________________________
© 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.
Make a one-time donation
Make a monthly donation
Make a yearly donation
Choose an amount
Or enter a custom amount
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 one-time 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 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.
WineStatistics 