Bodega Catena Zapata : Nicolas 2021

The balance and smoothness of a great Argentinian red wine

The estate

Pioneer, Nicola Catena founded in 1902 the Bodega Catena Zapata and planted his first plots of Malbec within the exceptional vineyard of Mendoza in Argentina.

This family estate, constantly striving for excellence, experienced a new surge when it was taken over in the 1960s by Nicolás Catena Zapata. Wishing to revolutionise the production methods of Argentinian wines, Nicolás Catena Zapata drew inspiration from the winemaking of Napa Valley wines and revealed new high-altitude terroirs to enhance the expression of the grape varieties.

Nicknamed "The Grand Cru of South America", Bodega Catena Zapata is an international reference recognised by critics for the finesse and elegance of its wines.

The vineyard

Nicolas from Bodega Catena Zapata is a wine from Mendoza made from a selection of the best vines from two vineyards in the Uco Valley: Adrianna and Nicasia. Peaking at 1450 meters above sea level and covering an area of 15 hectares, the Adrianna vineyard is composed of a limestone soil made up of gravel. The Nicasia vineyard, located at 1095 meters above sea level, extends over an area of 17 hectares with a soil composed of gravel and sand.

The wine

Produced since the 1997 vintage, Nicolas de Catena Zapata is the first high-end Argentinian wine to have been exported worldwide. Made from pre-phylloxera mass selections of malbec and cabernet sauvignon, this exceptional wine recreates the "Original Bordeaux Blend" of the 18th and 19th centuries, when the Médoc vineyards were mainly composed of malbec and cabernet sauvignon.

To celebrate the estate's heritage as well as its pioneering vision and its role in the development of Argentinian wines over the years, the bottle is adorned with a new label from this 2021 vintage.

The vintage

The year 2021 is marked by a cool climate and slightly above average rainfall.

Vinification and ageing

Combining a beautiful fruity structure with delicate acidity, the carefully harvested grapes undergo a long maceration, conferring elegance, persistence and a supple texture supported by perfect balance.

Blend

The Nicolas 2021 cuvée from Bodega Catena Zapata is the result of a cabernet sauvignon (46%), malbec (44%) and cabernet franc (10%) blend.