A monumental and highly acclaimed vintage, the 2021 Malbec Argentino is a masterclass in high-altitude viticulture, sourced from the historic Nicasia and Adrianna vineyards. This wine presents an impenetrable violet-black color and an explosive bouquet of crushed black raspberries, cassis, and ripe blueberries, layered with sophisticated notes of violets, graphite, and white pepper. On the palate, it is full-bodied and profoundly concentrated, yet maintains an incredible sense of elegance and "vertical" lift. Fine-grained, chalky tannins support deep flavors of dark chocolate and licorice, while a vibrant, stony acidity leads to an extraordinarily long and soaring finish. This vintage is widely considered a landmark for the label, often reaching the pinnacle of critical scoring.
96 Points - James Suckling
A really well-balanced malbec here that is slightly spicier and richer. Black cherries, dark olives and some violets. Fleshy and almost full-bodied on the palate with juicy, naturally rendered fruit and very fine-grained tannins. Balance is the word. Drink or hold.
96 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The very young but already harmonious 2021 Catena Zapata Malbec Argentino has one of the showier labels from the Catena portfolio. 2021 was a cooler year, as cold as 2016, but instead of a wet year like 2016, it was dry. The wine is juicy and reveals a vibrant palate and very clean and focused aromas and flavors. It's clean and precise with varietal aromas of violets, ripe berries and herbs and a spicy touch from the élevage in oak. It's another great vintage for this blend of grapes from the vineyards of Angélica (Lunlunta) and Nicasia (Altamira). It's nicely textured and tasty, medium to full-bodied and with a vibrant finish.
95 Points - Wine Enthusiast
The fruit is sourced from vineyards in the Uco Valley and Maipú, resulting in a fruit-focused, silky Malbec. Delicate aromas of berries and spices introduce a fresh palate of strawberry, cherry and mulberry flavors enhanced by a dash of pink pepper. This vintage is lively and juicy, with a lengthy and delicious finish. Drink now or hold through 2038 and beyond.
93 Points - Wine Spectator
A tad restrained at this stage, but shows a nice mix of floral and mineral notes that join the palate around a swell of chalky mineral acidity, adding fresh raspberry flavors, turning slightly muscular on the finish, with firming tannins and notes of dark chocolate. Drink now through 2033. 5,000 cases made, 2,500 cases imported.
