Catena Zapata, Catena Alta Historic Rows Malbec 2018, Mendoza, Argentina

Tasting Note: A delicate malbec that shows the heights that malbec can reach.

Deep-intensity purple in color, this wine has an aromatic, medium-plus-intensity nose of blackberry, violet blossoms, raspberry, rose petal and black plum with hints of vanilla baking spice and cedar.

On the palate the dry, medium-plus-bodied malbec has medium-plus-intensity flavors supported by medium acidity and soft, medium tannin ultimately completing with a medium-plus-finish.

There are hints of leather and black tea in the midpalate.

I wish more people got to experience malbec like this.

Bottle Note: Catena Alta malbec is sourced from select rows in the Catena family’s Andean Vineyards: Angélica Sur (35%), Adrianna (20%), Nicasia (25%), Angélica (10%) and La Pirámide (10%). The blend of these historic rows, the marriage of sounds that created a symphony, yields an exuberant wine that speaks for the earth and the vines that have been tended by the Catenas for four generations. The Catena Family, since 1902: One hundred years of defining Argentine wine.