Nicolás Catena Zapata
⏳ Drinking Window
2026 - 2042
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted rack of lamb, grilled ribeye steak, slow-braised venison
✨ Technical Specifications
The 2019 vintage of Nicolás Catena Zapata represents a masterclass in high-altitude blending, capturing the essence of a remarkably cool and dry growing season in Mendoza. This vintage is a precise assemblage of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, and Cabernet Franc, sourced from historic, high-elevation vineyards including La Pirámide and Nicasia. The cool climate of 2019 allowed for slow, even ripening, preserving vibrant acidity and fine-grained tannins. The wine underwent spontaneous fermentation in small oak casks before aging for 18 months in French oak. This vintage pays homage to the traditional Bordeaux blends of the 19th century, before phylloxera, when Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon ruled the Left Bank together, reimagined through the prism of Argentina's extreme mountain terroirs.
🍾 About the Producer
Founded in 1902 by Italian immigrant Nicola Catena, Bodega Catena Zapata is celebrated as the pioneer that revolutionized modern Argentine winemaking and propelled Malbec onto the international stage. Located in Mendoza, the estate was transformed in the 1980s by third-generation vintner Nicolás Catena Zapata, who boldly advanced high-altitude viticulture along the Andean foothills, highlighted by the iconic Adrianna Vineyard in Gualtallary. Today, under the stewardship of Nicolás and his daughter Dr. Laura Catena, the winery unites traditional winemaking with groundbreaking soil and climate research via the Catena Institute of Wine. The estate is globally revered for its profound, terroir-driven expressions, exemplified by flagship cuvées such as Nicolás Catena Zapata, Malbec Argentino, and the acclaimed Adrianna Vineyard parcel-specific bottlings.
🍇 Grape Varieties
Cabernet Sauvignon 42%, Malbec 30%, Cabernet Franc 28%
🍷 Alcohol By Volume (ABV)
13.9%