98pts James Suckling

Elegant and perfumed nose with violets, spices, fresh blackberries, blueberries and touches of chiles, chocolate, cigar box and white pepper. Super juicy on the palate with compact, fine tannins and an extremely long finish. Drink or hold.

98pts Owen Bargreen

A worldclass wine, the 2022 ‘Argentino’ comes from vines that are more than 100 years of age. Given roughly 20% whole cluster ferentation, vines from this wine are set on a range of soils including sand, gravel, stones and clayloam. Stored in a combination of small and large format French oak barrels this delivers flavors of mocha, tar, anise and wild huckleberry that meld well with its rich, voluptuous texture and bright, underlying acidity.

95pts Decanter

With its trademark dynamism, character and typicity, this Malbec surprises for its complexity married with drinkability. Fresh yet deep, it fills the mouth with juicy ripe cherry, plum, pink peach, pomegranate. Crunchy red apples adds a refreshing bite, offsetting the density of the soft tannins. Deft integration of wood and alcohol. Long finish with a spicy and vegetal rim.

94pts Tim Atkin

Argentino is an equal blend of Malbecs from the Angélica Vineyard in Lunlunta and the Nicasia Vineyard in Paraje Altamira. Matured in foudres and one-third new wood, it’s a rich, supple, glossy style with a touch of whole bunch spices, succulent bramble, blackberry and raspberry coulis flavours and fine-grained, savoury tannins.

94pts Wine Enthusiast

This refined Malbec boasts mulberry aromas and a delicate touch of clove on the nose. The palate is smooth and spiced, featuring juicy black fruit flavors wrapped in notes of vanilla bean and cinnamon. Optimal acidity elevates the dark cherry notes in a delightful, lingering finish.

93pts Vinous

A blend of two origins—the warmer La Consulta and the cooler Paraje Altamira —the 2022 Malbec Argentino spent up to 12 months in French oak barrels. Purplish in hue, it reveals aromas of violets, plum and ripe dark fruit, alongside subtle smoky nuances. The oak is finely integrated, lending a creamy texture, plush tannins and a soft structure. This wine masterfully balances two distinct profiles — currently youthful yet velvety. It reinterprets the classic Mendoza Malbec style of the early 2000s.

Tasting Notes

The Catena Zapata Malbec Argentino shows a saturated dark violet color with ruby reflections; the nose offers cassis, blueberries and violets, along with a strong suggestion of soil tones. It combines density and sweetness on the one hand, with gripping, lightly saline flavors of mocha, dark berries, spice, and minerals; a palate-staining finish dominated by sweet black and blue fruits.

Pairs well with lamb chops, beef tenderloin, and goat cheese.

About the Wine

The epic tale of the noble Malbec grape is like no other, and the label for Catena Zapata Malbec Argentino pays tribute to the variety’s history in France and its rise in Argentina. Four female figures embody different landmarks in the history of the grape. Eleanor of Aquitaine represents the birth of Malbec. She is a strong, Old-World presence, lingering at the bridge in Cahors, where Malbec came into its own. Next, the Immigrant symbolizes the movement to the New World and the unknown explorers and adventurers who connected Europe with the Americas. Phylloxera personifies the death of Malbec in the Old World, which enabled its rebirth in the new. Finally, there is Bodega Catena Zapata, represented by Adrianna Catena, who depicts birth, earth, and motherhood, sharing the riches of the New World. Today, the Catena family’s fourth generation leads the high-altitude renaissance in Argentina. We are returning Malbec to the sky... where it belongs.

Catena Zapata Malbec Argentino is made from a meticulous vine selection in the best lots of the Catena family’s estate vineyards. These Zapata vines are carefully hand tended and produce extremely low yields. The grapes are micro-fermented in new French oak barriques and the wine is then aged for 24 months in new French oak. This wine is made in very limited quantities.

No matter what the vintage, this wine is really more than 100 years old. It represents a family's journey to produce an Argentine Malbec that can stand with the great wines of the world.