Nicolas Catena Zapata

The flagship of Catena Zapata combines the two most important red wine grape varieties of Mendoza in a cuvée that consistently reflects the character of the high altitudes: concentrated, structured, with a mineral depth rarely found in flatter wine-growing regions.

Nicolás Catena Zapata began in the 1980s as one of the first to systematically focus on sites between 900 and 1,500 meters — an experiment at the time, now the foundation of modern Argentine viticulture. The soils of the Región del Nuevo Cuyo, volcanic and poor, force the vines to root deeply and give the wine its characteristic mineral imprint.

In the glass, the cuvée of Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec shows dark blackberry, blackcurrant, and plum, underscored by cedar wood, graphite, and a hint of tobacco. The tannins are dense but silky, the finish long with a clear mineral line.

Best served at 17–18 °C, with at least one hour of decanting time. Pairs with dry-aged ribeye, leg of lamb with rosemary, or mature Manchego.