I have enjoyed Catena wines from Argentina and here are some of the better experiences:
- 2016 Bodega Catena Zapata Malbec Paraje Altamira – Argentina, Mendoza, Valle de Uco, Altamira (12/4/2019)
Day 1: Dust, blueberries, cherry, floral and minerals. Very enjoyable wine. Nice fruit but love the minerality on the finish. This exceeds the price point. Medium finish. 91 points
Day 2: Very good with a nice smoked meat quality along with blueberries, cherry, floral, minerals and dust. Medium plus finish. This is a crowd pleaser and for the price a hit at your next party. 91 points
Day 3: Picks up some smoke/smoked meats along with blueberries, cherry, minerals and dust. Not as concentrated as day 1 and 2 but solid. 88 points
Recommendation: This will age through 2024. I would decant this for an hour or drink it over 2 days. (91 points) - 2016 Bodega Catena Zapata Malbec High Mountain Vines – Argentina, Mendoza (10/10/2019)
2019 Hennepin Lake Charity Event (Minneapolis, MN): Classic Malbec featuring blackberries, spice, floral and dust. Medium finish. (88 points) - 2016 Bodega Catena Zapata Malbec Lunlunta – Argentina, Mendoza, Maipú, Lunlunta (10/5/2019)
A nice wine with pepper, spice, red currants and floral notes. Medium plus finish. Solid wine. (89 points) - 2017 Bodega Catena Zapata Chardonnay Tupungato – Argentina, Mendoza, Valle de Uco, Tupungato (8/1/2019)
Very drinkable. Apple, minerals, subtle oak, lemon and pear. Solid. (89 points) - 2015 Bodega Catena Zapata Malbec Lunlunta – Argentina, Mendoza, Maipú, Lunlunta (3/31/2019)
Not bad with cherry, plum, spice and minerals. Usually always like the Catena lineups at all price points. (88 points) - 2015 Bodega Catena Zapata Cabernet Sauvignon – Argentina, Mendoza (10/6/2018)
Haskell’s Grand Tasting (Haskell’s, Bloomington): This was nice with some funk, plums, cherry and coffee beans. Medium plus finish and has some aging potential. Drink now to 2022. (89 points) - 2013 Bodega Catena Zapata Malbec High Mountain Vines – Argentina, Mendoza (4/9/2016)
Very good with dark fruits, spice and medium plus finish. Good value. Tasty. (90 points) - 2011 Bodega Catena Zapata Cabernet Sauvignon High Mountain Vines – Argentina, Mendoza (6/8/2014)
Nice wine for under $20. Cherry, dust, cedar and earth. Very old world in style. Medium plus finish. Could improve over a few days. (89 points) - 2010 Bodega Catena Zapata Malbec High Mountain Vines – Argentina, Mendoza (4/6/2013)
Not bad with blueberries, cherry, minerals and floral notes. Medium finish. (89 points) - 2010 Bodega Catena Zapata Malbec Tilia – Argentina, Mendoza (3/31/2012)
Nice stuff and a really good producer. Plum, spice, cherry and earth. Soft tannins and drink up. Good for the non red drinker. (89 points) - 2008 Bodega Catena Zapata Malbec High Mountain Vines – Argentina, Mendoza (10/27/2010)
Hennepin Lake Tasting; 10/20/2010-11/12/2010: Another solid showing with blackberries, spice, earth and plum. Medium finish and good range of flavors. (88 points) - 2008 Bodegas Caro (Barons de Rothschild / Catena) Amancaya – Argentina, Mendoza (9/7/2010)
Nice overall with oak, spice, cherry, cranberry and medium concentration. Nice wine overall and the oak should integrate with some cellaring. (90 points) - 2007 Alamos Malbec – Argentina, Mendoza (4/30/2010)
Good structure and the wine aromas are cherry, blackberries, smoke, and oak. Medium finish and a bit tannic right now but cellar a few years. Enjoyed with ribs. (90 points)
However this vintage of their High Mountain Vines Malbec is a huge disappointment.
- 2018 Bodega Catena Zapata Malbec High Mountain Vines – Argentina, Mendoza (7/31/2021)
Day 1: Always like this producer and their base bottling usually delivers. This so far does not. Manufactured taste with ripe fruit, black licorice and spices. Not balanced at all. Very disappointing on a wine normally reliable. NOT recommended. 84 points
Day 2: A bit thin and lacks complexity. This tastes like a cheap wine and very disappointed as it used to be a go to Malbec. Maybe the vintage but this is poorly made. 84 points
Day 3: Sadly this wine is a former favorite but this vintage is terrible. Sweet and lacks complexity. Wondering if 2018 is a bad vintage or this winery is slipping on their lower end offerings. 82 points
Recommedation: Don’t purchase. (84 points)
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