Malbec
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed 3–8 years from the vintage release.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Grilled ribeye steak, roasted lamb chops, beef empanadas
✨ Technical Specifications
Catena Zapata's estate Malbec is a landmark wine that redefined global perceptions of Argentine viticulture. Born from the visionary quest of Nicolás Catena to prove that Mendoza could produce world-class wines, this bottling is a masterclass in high-altitude blending. By sourcing fruit from a tapestry of historic family vineyards situated at varying elevations in the Andean foothills—including Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley—the winemakers capture a unique synergy of terroirs. The lower-altitude clay soils contribute rich, dark berry flavors and velvety texture, while the extreme heights of the gravel-dominant parcels infuse the wine with vibrant acidity, structural elegance, and intense floral notes of violet. This pioneering approach of blending different altitudes and microclimates has become the defining signature of the estate's classic Malbec, offering a beautifully balanced, expressive, and deeply historic representation of Mendoza.
🍾 About the Producer
Founded in 1902 by Italian immigrant Nicola Catena, Bodega Catena Zapata is the preeminent pioneer of modern Argentine viticulture. In the 1980s and 1990s, third-generation visionary Nicolás Catena Zapata revolutionized the domestic industry by venturing into extreme high-altitude Andean terroirs, most notably planting the famed Adrianna Vineyard in Gualtallary at nearly 1,500 meters above sea level. Today directed by Dr. Laura Catena and celebrated winemaking director Alejandro Vigil, the estate pairs rigorous micro-terroir research through the Catena Institute of Wine with precision viticulture across alluvial, limestone-laced gravel soils. Fermentations frequently incorporate whole clusters and indigenous yeasts, vinified in concrete, oak foudres, and French barriques to preserve freshness, structural nuance, and site-specific tension. Benchmark bottlings such as the flagship Nicolás Catena Zapata, Adrianna Vineyard Mundus Bacillus Terrae Malbec, and Adrianna Vineyard White Stones Chardonnay stand as global archetypes of high-elevation South American fine wine.
🍇 Grapes
Malbec
🍷 ABV
13.5-14%