Catena Zapata, Catena Alta Malbec, Mendoza

Noticed the cellar tracker label at a friends house. Purchased by a friend of a friend in 2015. Actually still very drinkable. Maybe a bit past its prime. Friend didn’t have a decanter so that was an issue. Cork was very dry but managed to uncork with a bit of a struggle. Dark and Jammy.

2006 vintage

Smoke and some vegetal notes on the nose. Med-full bodied, this is moderately rich and round with a good amount of layered tannins. Pepper, spice and black fruits. Still fresh, this is fully mature, but no need to rush to finish bottles. 91

2013 vintage

Too much oak, but, over all pleasant wine.

2013 vintage

A classic Malbec at peak.

2013 vintage

An excellent Malbec with plenty of fruit and flavor even after 10 years!

2013 vintage

Been cleaning out the cellar and this was a bit of a gem. Very impressed for what it was. The color was still deep garnet and the wine did throw some sediment. The nose was actually quite complex with notes of dried black plum, pomegranate and dark chocolate. The palate was impressively rich with good intensity left in this one. Notes of dark cherry, plum and dried fruits along with a kernel notes and a touch of earth. The tannin …

2006 vintage

Holding up very well, near the peak, will not get any better. Integrated fruit, coffee, peppery, perfectly balanced and silky smooth tannins.

2013 vintage

Still good after 10 years!

2013 vintage

Still a young wine, vertical with plenty of backbone, cassis, spice, juicy stuff, well balanced. Will keep, but not improve, I think.

2013 vintage

Dark ruby colour. Ripe red and black berry fruit, herbaceous notes, coffee, graphite, spices, mint and some liquorice, with supporting acidity, fine tannin, and very good persistence. That said, the acidity is slightly artificial and pronounced, ant the wine finishes herbaceous, drying, and bitter. Not a fan.

2007 vintage

Not terribly aromatic, some charred wood, cedar and tobacco. Black fruits and a hint of dill. The palate is showing a lot of age with stewed black cherries, herbal shadings and Charred wood. Really showing a lot of age and a bit unbalanced. Drink now. 90 Tatiana says 90

2006 vintage

Purple color, fruity, spicy nose, ripe and round. I think the wine is fully developed right now, but there is no reason to hurry, minimum of 5 more years. The palate is pleased by the silky texture and the ripe and soft tannins. Wonderful fruity finish with plum, vanilla and lots of spices. Given the irresistible price quality ratio a very good choice for wine lovers.

2013 vintage

In a good place right now. Impressive concentration framed by receding tannins.

2013 vintage

Outstanding Malbec with a great price- performance ratio. Strong and fruity and yet extremely soft in the finish!

2013 vintage

This has aged nicely and become earthy and flinty -- very serious for a Malbec. The fruit is dry but deep with red notes peaking through.

2007 vintage

Leaf Day - poured blood red into decanter. Decanted off a couple of tablespoons of sediment. In the glass it has a dense dark garnet core extending almost to the rim which is garnet tinged with mahogany. Nose shows damp earth, dark fruit, leather, and dried leaves. In the mouth it’s very smooth with fully resolved (but still apparent) tannins, bright acidity keeping it fresh and with flavours of both red and black fruit, cooking herbs (rosemary, bay and sage), …

2006 vintage

tobacco leaves, leather, spices, Espresso, black plum

2013 vintage

Has great depth and concentration along with balance and sense of elegance. Smooth dark fruit, a touch of herb and spice, finishing with some delicious dusty cocoa.

2013 vintage

Sophisticated and layered at this stage, all rough edges are gone. Violet flowers and peppery, perfectly balanced with well integrated tannins. Plenty of life still in this vintage, will last for several more years.

2013 vintage

Very nice. 2-3 more years possibly

2013 vintage

Alt godt kommer til den, der kan vente. Sidste flaske af seks og endelig! Lækker moden vin, hvor det hele fremstår balanceret og harmonisk. Drik nu og +3-5 år.

2013 vintage

Always a stunning wine! So enjoyable when you want a good Malbec. Nez intense de bleuet et de mûre, de vanille, de brin de scie, légèrement toasté, et de tabac à pipe aromatisé...magnifique ! Souple même soyeux aux tannins ultra fins. Saveurs de fruits noirs confits. Harmonieux et long. Délicieux et prêt ! 93+

2013 vintage

Loads of stuffing left in fruit and tannin.

2003 vintage

Still drinking very well. Pared with grilled flank steak.

2009 vintage

Very, very good! Perfectly balanced between dark fruit, acid and tannins. A nice hint of oak and quite a long finish. Surprised me. Probably at peak now and a couple of more years.

2013 vintage

Vinho de cor vermelho púrpura, com tons granada. Intensidade de cor alta. Fechado, porém com brilho. Na taça apresenta intensa formação de lágrimas, duradouras e simétricas. Passou pelo aerador (Magic Decanter). Nariz de intensidade média alta, profusão de aromas de frutas negras maduras (ameixa e figo). Notas de flores secas, couro, caixa de cigarro e giz de cera. Manteve seu perfil olfativo ao longo do consumo. Em boca a acidez é viva. Taninos presentes e integrados. Álcool mansamente presente. Conjunto …

2009 vintage

I'm a bit confused. This is the wine that came up on a barcode search and it says 'historic lots' on the label as shown here. This is in contrast to another Catena Alta Malbec on this site which is superficially similar but has 'historic rows' as the only difference on the label and is, apparently made by Laura Catena (but has no reviews). Anyway, I have added a photo of the label here and will keep my comments brief. …

2007 vintage

Think this may be past its peak as the acid is out of balance with the fruit. Still has some nice fruit but the finish was a bit too tangy. Best with food. Meh.

2006 vintage

Dark, purple and a somewhat opaque colour. Rich, intense nose with some complexity; lots of dark berries, a whiff of coffee and chocolate, oak, laurel and herbs. Mediumbodied plus with good acidity on the palate, there is a good amount of dark fruit and some chocolate. Pretty round and smooth tannins and a very good length. I had it with an entrecôte, home-made strips, red wine-sauce, harico verts and béarnaise-butter. Touché!

2009 vintage

Very good, deep

2013 vintage

Meh

2009 vintage

Glass: Riedel Vinum Syrah Popped and poured, drunk over 2 days. Clean, deep garnet color with tawny reflexes. Clean, medium+ fully developed nose. Tobacco, spices, leather, plum, butter and a touch of lovage. Nice, maybe a bit past peak already. On the palate dry, but with a noticeable sweetness coming from the high 14% abv. Medium acidity, medium tannin. Very creamy, almost oily mouthfeel. Very lactic, lots of black pepper, spices, dark fruits (plum). Balanced, but also bold and massive …

2006 vintage

Still holding on well considering the vintage. Great with Lomo Saltado. No need to wait on this.

2003 vintage

Some obvious sweetness, not as much firmness as I expect from a Malbec. Not so memorable, a bit over-priced.

2013 vintage

WOW said my wife with the first sip. Unlike some previous reviewers we think this wine is in a prime drinking window with some time at peak left. Huge fruit with a nice balancing acidity. Too bad it was our only bottle.................

2009 vintage

Pop and pour. Simple, tasty Malbec with boysenberry jam and black pepper dominating.

2013 vintage

Fortsæt lækker vin, med en dejlig åben næse, og klart mere tilgængelig end sidste besøg. Solbær, brombær, mørkerøde kirsebær, lakrids, kaffe og til sidste lidt stald, ymer og babybræk .. på den gode måde. Lækker cremet og rund i munden, god fyldig, men lidt kort eftersmag, som på en eller anden måde stopper på fortungen og som ikke når helt rundt i mundhulen. Lyder underligt, men er jeg den eneste med den fornemmelse? Ellers fin moden og drikkeklar. Nydt til …

2013 vintage

Wine is deep purple in color, on the nose are hints of cherry, cinnamon and clove. On the palate is cherry, clove and tobacco. This is a very nice wine and is drinking exceptional well right now, however the window is closing, so drink it now.

2009 vintage

Super full bodied with chewy tannins and inky blackberry fruit. This Malbec is concentrated and packed with subtle flavors of licorice, plum and dark chocolate. Can pop and pour and it’s ready to go.

2013 vintage

Purple black in colour, tannins still evident and masking the fruit to a degree, not a lot on the nose but a pretty dense mouthful of plums and cherry and quite smooth, not much of a finish, decent drink but I expected more from this, will it go on, I think not, drink up.

2013 vintage

Fine wine, better than my previous one. P&P. Roasted notes, milk chocolate. Some lactic notes. Low acidity but I liked it. Last botlle for me but I advice to drink this wine NOW.

2009 vintage

Exzellent, fruity & berry’s , full body, long presence

2003 vintage

Fine nose. On the palate melted tannins, a bit thin on the mid palate. Nice wine but definitly on it way down. Not the fine wine I drank 3 years ago. Drink it soon.

2009 vintage

Brought to CSHL summer course. Was drinking well.

2007 vintage

Well stored under ideal conditions; there was hardly a couple of mm cork penetration. Deep, opaque colour with a touch of purple at the rim and a rich, spicy nose. Palate was massive, rich, meaty with blackberries, soft tannins, excellent balance of acidity, fruit, body, tannin. Set aside for 6h by which time there was rich dark cherry and dark berry fruit with mulberry, almost citrus acidity. Dark plums developed gradually with time in the glass. Soft, food-friendly tannins and …

2007 vintage

This wine is a fraction of the fine wine I drank 3 years ago. No tension, fruit is fading. Leather notes. Nice but not great. I will drink my other 2 bottles soon.

2009 vintage

Another short Afternoon with some New World Wines, Vol. 2018 (Mövenpick Winestore, Hamburg, Germany) : One glass, brief note: a perfect beaf red, as always Malbec from Argentina is crying for a tiny T-bone! Very well structured tannin, long, **(* +?), around 90

2013 vintage

Intens, men lidt skarp malbec. Fin åben næse med masser af solbær, blommer, mørke kirsebær, en god del røg, kaffe og vanille. Til gengæld er munden fortsat noget snerpet. Fyldig i smagen, fin cremet textur og en god del mørke bær. Men også en god del “flad” metalagtig smag og markante tanniner. Det skal nok blive godt, men kræver både mad og tid. Pt. foretrækker jeg den mere prisbillige, ordinære Cantena Malbec.

2013 vintage

Nice nose with a little of that camphor and menthol. Big wine. Woody and salty.

2007 vintage

Wonderful....the melbecs aren't as tart in this price range almost like a light cab

2007 vintage

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Catena Zapata, Catena Alta Malbec, Mendoza

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