Bodega Catena Zapata Malbec Catena High Mountain Vines

Bodega Catena Zapata

Other · Malbec
Sign in to rate Create your cellar
Critics Average score from professional wine critics and publications.
89 /100
Reviews
23
professional

Vintages

1
2012 Other 89/100
Malbec, Malbec Blend
NV

Community Reviews

32
32
Reviews
89.1
Avg Score
95
Highest
Taster #1584 · Jun 7, 2025
86/100
Passed its peak, but still very good. Weak tannins already for a Malbec
2012 vintage
Taster #0294 · Dec 18, 2022
Based drinking window off.
2012 vintage
Taster #0111 · Feb 27, 2022
2 hr decant and it was simply not enough. Hints of greatness but this never hit its stride not even with food. Notes of black cherry and black olive on an otherwise muted palate and nose. Not fair to score, drinking conditions were user error. Other notes spell it out best, decant 6 hrs or hold 5-10 years and decant 4-6 hrs.
2012 vintage
Taster #8948 · Apr 9, 2021
95/100
A smoky, blackberry, flinty Malbec with hints of slightly-burnt pie-crust and roasted almonds. This drinks with a pedigree of royalty but still feels accessible to Malbec hacks and novices like me. A big hitter, but still at a fair price, from one of new world’s great vineyards and a great winemaker. Decanted about 2 hrs.
2012 vintage
Taster #9604 · Feb 24, 2021
Going strong. Still has some time left but don't think you'll see much more evolution.
2012 vintage
Taster #8235 · Feb 17, 2021
90/100
Has held up well. Still solid fruit. Nevertheless agree with previous posts - time to drink up!
2012 vintage
Taster #2153 · Oct 12, 2020
89/100
Still drinking very nicely. Not as interesting as I expect from a WS90 wine, so probably best to drink soon. At $15 it was a great value.
2012 vintage
Taster #5756 · May 7, 2020
91/100
Absolutely delightful (half-bottle), but seems to be starting the downhill slide -- drink 'em if you got 'em.
2012 vintage
Taster #7989 · Jan 25, 2020
90/100
Very pleasant. Felim liked it. Sirloin and brussell sprouts with blueberries
2012 vintage
Taster #5730 · Dec 31, 2019
94/100
Delicious Malbec, velvety smooth, and well balanced.
2012 vintage
Taster #9263 · Oct 20, 2019
Splash decant in decanter then straight to glass. Initially very fruit forward, concentrated black fruits, dried prunes, a bit sweet at first. Within an hour, wine starts to balance out, sweetness dies down a bit. Smooth, round tannin, good acidity. Medium finish. Notes of herb and vanilla. 1/3 bottle left for next day. Need a little time to warm up from fridge temperature. Little fruit at fruit, before warming up an hour later. Fruit seems to come back, but not …
2012 vintage
Taster #9960 · Aug 10, 2019
Mendoza tasting.
2012 vintage
Taster #4135 · Jun 8, 2019
89/100
Excellent drinking right now (june 2019). Can probably Edit some more years. BBQ!
2012 vintage
Taster #1020 · Apr 24, 2019
87/100
Need to reserve judgement because I think this got held too long. It quite unremarkable and tasted like a wine that had passed it peak.
2012 vintage
Taster #6138 · Apr 20, 2019
90/100
Dark fruit!
2012 vintage
Taster #7788 · Mar 31, 2019
90/100
Very deep colour, still. 3h after decanting - lovely nose, deep, sweet dark fruits with well-balanced acidity and rich complex spicy character. It was well worth cellaring this vintage for 6-7 years - it is now nearing its best IMO. Lovely wine. 90+
2012 vintage
Taster #9459 · Dec 28, 2018
Ok. Not my fav Malbec
2012 vintage
Taster #4657 · Dec 9, 2018
94/100
Unbelievable wine! Best Malbec I have ever tasted. Give it some time. This wine will age very nice! the difference in 6 hours after decanting was amazing.
2012 vintage
Taster #2166 · Aug 31, 2018
89/100
Inky black medium body wine. Plum and blackberry fruit with a hint of granite. The wine is good but Malbec is not one of my favorite varietals.
2012 vintage
Taster #7247 · Jun 14, 2018
90/100
Good value. Adding more to my cellar!
2012 vintage
Taster #7674 · Dec 29, 2017
89/100
Beau malbec Argentin bien réussi. Excellent Q/P***$$
2012 vintage
Taster #2070 · Nov 14, 2017
Nice depth in the wine with plums, prunes and figs, Worcestershire, balsamic and vanilla, with good balance
2012 vintage
Taster #7788 · Aug 30, 2017
90/100
Deep colour with a touch of purple at the rim. Vanilla and spice on the nose with dark fruits. The palate showed dark fruits - damsons (with damson skin), plums, mulberries, some blackberry with soft vanilla oak and leather. Excellent acidity and balance. The fruit seemed to sweeten slightly as it opened and warmed in the glass and the wine showed more fragrance. Open early. Very good with Beef Bourguignon. This wine was well worth keeping for a few years …
2012 vintage
Taster #8182 · Aug 11, 2017
88/100
Nice value,classic Malbec!
2012 vintage
Taster #7479 · Apr 11, 2017
79/100
Clear deep garnet with no rim browning. Smoke, mushroom, black olive. Low acids, low tannins. Sour cherry. Short balanced finish.
2012 vintage
Taster #4692 · Mar 5, 2017
88/100
This wine did not hold up well to multiple Coravin draws. Nice nose with medium caramel aroma/ Medium fruit with high acidity, strong tannins and medium finish, Enjoyed with steaks and it was a good complement.
2012 vintage
Taster #8257 · Jan 31, 2017
89/100
Good
2012 vintage
Taster #8257 · Jan 27, 2017
88/100
Bought this at a grocery store in Ecuador while visiting friends and had with dinner.
2012 vintage
Taster #1981 · Nov 27, 2016
85/100
Smoke, blackberry, plum, and leather on the palate. Tannins were bright, but smoothed out quickly with air. Short finish and a little thin. Nose was very nice with lots of dark fruit and oak. I'm not a huge fan as I have had better at this price point. It was okay!
2012 vintage
Taster #9263 · Oct 31, 2016
Been a long time since we had a Catena Malbec, but glad we revisited it. Decanted in fridge for 15 mins - wine initially had some good fruit aromas, but as wine warms up, the alcohol took over. Wine got lots of mouthfeel, round, smooth, black fruits, smooth tannin, vanilla oak, some intensity to it, med length finish. Half bottle for day 2, held in there pretty well, not much changed from day 1, fruits still there, just slightly faded …
2012 vintage
Taster #2407 · Oct 23, 2016
89/100
Dark and stormy red. Roses, blueberries, and earth nose. Medium bodied, blackberries, dark cherries, pepper, well integrated tannins, a touch of smoke, and a medium to long black cherry finish. This had a real off, chemical taste the first night, but was fine after that. Maybe it was me.
2012 vintage
Taster #2408 · Sep 5, 2015
Vosses over - 3rd bottle opened so may need to taste solo
2012 vintage