Bodega Catena Zapata
River Stones Vino De Parcela Adrianna Vineyard Malbec
Mendoza, Cuyo, Argentina
Juicy fruits, round, vanilla, velvet and smooth. Crowd pleaser. Simple and nice.
Juicy fruits, round, vanilla, velvet and smooth. Crowd pleaser. Simple and nice.
Feb 18th, 2023
This is a 2017 barrel sample of the Catena Zapata Adriana River Stones.
On the nose; ruby dark currants/cassis, dark rich soils, dry stones & crush rocks, blackberries, blue fruits, blackberries, black plum, dark chocolate baking bar, herbal notes, vanilla, lavender & violets.
On the palate; the body is beautifully full. Tannins are dry, rounded, tarry and sticky. Big structure, huge tension, great length and good potential balance.
Ruby dark currants/cassis, dark rich soils, dry stones & crush rocks, blackberries, blue fruits, blackberries, black plum, some creamy raspberries on the edges, dark chocolate baking bar, herbal notes, dry river stones, crushed dry rock powder, loamy dry top soil, leather, coffee grounds, vanilla, lavender & violets. Good acidity. The finish is very dry tannins and earth. It’s expected as its still in barrel but shows a lot of promise.
Photos of; their beautiful and spotless barrel room, our host getting us barrel samples, a layered look at the soil structure of the Adriana River Stones Vineyard and Bodega Catena Zapata.
This is a 2017 barrel sample of the Catena Zapata Adriana River Stones.
On the nose; ruby dark currants/cassis, dark rich soils, dry stones & crush rocks, blackberries, blue fruits, blackberries, black plum, dark chocolate baking bar, herbal notes, vanilla, lavender & violets.
On the palate; the body is beautifully full. Tannins are dry, rounded, tarry and sticky. Big structure, huge tension, great length and good potential balance.
Ruby dark currants/cassis, dark rich soils, dry stones & crush rocks, blackberries, blue fruits, blackberries, black plum, some creamy raspberries on the edges, dark chocolate baking bar, herbal notes, dry river stones, crushed dry rock powder, loamy dry top soil, leather, coffee grounds, vanilla, lavender & violets. Good acidity. The finish is very dry tannins and earth. It’s expected as its still in barrel but shows a lot of promise.
Photos of; their beautiful and spotless barrel room, our host getting us barrel samples, a layered look at the soil structure of the Adriana River Stones Vineyard and Bodega Catena Zapata.
A Coravin taste of this bottle to celebrate our departure to South America. We will be at Catena Zapata on the morning of 23rd...can’t think of a better way to start the day in Mendoza. When I first put this wine to my nose, I experienced vanilla milkshake with a touch of root beer after a 40 minute decant in glass. Strong vanillin notes, dark sweet currants, ripe blackberries, blueberries, sweet dark cherries, slightly underripe black raspberries, black plums, melted dark chocolate, mocha chocolate, touch of pepper, loamy soil & dry clay, violets fields for days and decayed red florals. One of the most engaging noses I’ve experienced in some time.
The body is thick, full and lush and feels like a velvety glove on the tongue. The tannins are still big, yet well rounded & powdery. The palate is beautiful. Dark ripe currants, blackberries, blueberries, black cherries, black raspberries, black plums & creamy raspberries. Amazing florals, lavender, violets and decayed red florals. Vanilla, root beer, dry clay, loamy soils, round powdery volcanic minerals with a slight edginess, dry stems, dry stones, coffee grounds, notes of pepper, sweet tarry notes, leather, tobacco, soft elegant spice, dry stems, very round beautiful acidity, solid structure, big length, perfect tension and rounded balance. The rich, ripe, ruby, candied, fruit, bright floral finish is so close to perfect it boggles the mind and last for minutes. Beautiful wine that I can’t wait to try again in 8-10 years and drink until 2035. Best wine I’ve had in some time and the best Malbec I’ve had to date.
Photos of; Catena Zapata with the beautiful snow capped Andes Mountains in the background, a shot of the Adrianna vineyard soil this wine is grown, Owners Laura Catena Zapata and Nicolás Catena Zapata and their spotless barrel room.
A Coravin taste of this bottle to celebrate our departure to South America. We will be at Catena Zapata on the morning of 23rd...can’t think of a better way to start the day in Mendoza. When I first put this wine to my nose, I experienced vanilla milkshake with a touch of root beer after a 40 minute decant in glass. Strong vanillin notes, dark sweet currants, ripe blackberries, blueberries, sweet dark cherries, slightly underripe black raspberries, black plums, melted dark chocolate, mocha chocolate, touch of pepper, loamy soil & dry clay, violets fields for days and decayed red florals. One of the most engaging noses I’ve experienced in some time.
The body is thick, full and lush and feels like a velvety glove on the tongue. The tannins are still big, yet well rounded & powdery. The palate is beautiful. Dark ripe currants, blackberries, blueberries, black cherries, black raspberries, black plums & creamy raspberries. Amazing florals, lavender, violets and decayed red florals. Vanilla, root beer, dry clay, loamy soils, round powdery volcanic minerals with a slight edginess, dry stems, dry stones, coffee grounds, notes of pepper, sweet tarry notes, leather, tobacco, soft elegant spice, dry stems, very round beautiful acidity, solid structure, big length, perfect tension and rounded balance. The rich, ripe, ruby, candied, fruit, bright floral finish is so close to perfect it boggles the mind and last for minutes. Beautiful wine that I can’t wait to try again in 8-10 years and drink until 2035. Best wine I’ve had in some time and the best Malbec I’ve had to date.
Photos of; Catena Zapata with the beautiful snow capped Andes Mountains in the background, a shot of the Adrianna vineyard soil this wine is grown, Owners Laura Catena Zapata and Nicolás Catena Zapata and their spotless barrel room.
Smells like there is going to be more oaky and fruity than it actually is. This is very refined. Very dry. Plums, red berries, olives, black pepper, mint, I have to give the Catena family credit for crafting wines in this style. Maybe a bit pricey, but good quality indeed.
Smells like there is going to be more oaky and fruity than it actually is. This is very refined. Very dry. Plums, red berries, olives, black pepper, mint, I have to give the Catena family credit for crafting wines in this style. Maybe a bit pricey, but good quality indeed.
Jul 18th, 2022
Great nose with almond paste, milk chocolate, cherry, some tobacco and cedarwood.
In the mouth lush and long. Tannins not completely integrated but very good wine.
Paired with pork ribs whoa!
Great nose with almond paste, milk chocolate, cherry, some tobacco and cedarwood.
In the mouth lush and long. Tannins not completely integrated but very good wine.
Paired with pork ribs whoa!
Sharing a bottle with the agronomist. RP 100. Cassis forward, smooth tannins and wonderful wonderful nose.
Sharing a bottle with the agronomist. RP 100. Cassis forward, smooth tannins and wonderful wonderful nose.
Feb 22nd, 2020Still incredibly tight. I can not imagine how this Wine will develop.
Still incredibly tight. I can not imagine how this Wine will develop.
Jun 8th, 2018Excellent example of how a Malbec should be...well done!
Excellent example of how a Malbec should be...well done!
May 18th, 2018