NICOLÁS CATENA ZAPATA 2003
With its inaugural 1997 vintage, Nicolás Catena Zapata became the first luxury cuvée from Argentina to be exported worldwide. The wine recreates the “Original Bordeaux Blend” of the 18th and 19th centuries, when Malbec dominated over Merlot and stood on equal footing with Cabernet Sauvignon in the Médoc. Pre-phylloxeric Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon massale selections of ungrafted vines give rise to this wine, offering a glimpse into the past from the mountain vineyards of Mendoza, Argentina.
THE CATENA ZAPATA FAMILY
Four generations of the Catena family have farmed the vineyards of Mendoza, ever since Italian founder Nicola Catena planted his first Malbec vines in 1902.
Robert Parker’s 2005 book on the 100 Greatest World Wine Estates featured only one winery from South America: Catena Zapata. Parker wrote:"Argentina’s greatest visionary is Nicolás Catena Zapata, and his crusade for high-altitude vineyards and conservative viticultural practices has resulted in one breakthrough wine after another, pushing Argentina to the forefront of the modern winemaking revolution."
Joined by his daughter, Dr. Laura Catena, in 1995, the father-daughter team continues its vision to elevate Argentine wine for another century.
In 2018, Catena Zapata joined La Place with two wines:
Nicolás Catena Zapata, the winery’s top Cabernet Sauvignon blend.
Adrianna Vineyard Mundus Bacillus Terrae, the winery’s top Malbec cru.
