Angelica Zapata Cabernet Franc Alta
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 5–15 years from the vintage release, as its robust tannins soften and complex tertiary notes develop.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Roasted duck, grilled lamb chops, rosemary-infused beef tenderloin
✨ wine.spec_sheet
Named in honor of Angélica Zapata, the remarkable matriarch of the Catena family who instilled a legacy of relentless education and excellence, this wine is a testament to the family's pioneering spirit. Sourced from high-altitude vineyards in Mendoza, particularly the historic La Pirámide vineyard in Agrelo, this Cabernet Franc benefits from intense mountain sunlight and cool alpine nights. This unique microclimate allows the grape to develop its signature complexity, balancing ripe red currant and cassis fruit with sophisticated notes of eucalyptus, black pepper, and sweet spice. Aged in French oak barrels, it represents a refined, structured, and deeply expressive Argentine interpretation of a classic Bordeaux variety, showcasing the remarkable potential of high-altitude Cabernet Franc.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Founded in 1902 by Italian immigrant Nicola Catena, the historic Catena Zapata estate is located in Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina, and remains family-owned under the visionary leadership of Nicolás Catena Zapata and his daughter Laura. Renowned for pioneering high-altitude viticulture in the Andean foothills, the winery revolutionized Argentine winemaking by proving that world-class, age-worthy wines could be produced from extreme mountain terroirs. Their production philosophy focuses on meticulous parcel selection and soil-specific micro-vinifications, particularly within the acclaimed Adrianna Vineyard. Catena Zapata is celebrated globally for its profound, structured red wines, most notably its flagship Bordeaux-style blend, Nicolás Catena Zapata, and the highly expressive, mineral-driven Adrianna Vineyard River Stones Malbec.