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2004 Bodega Catena Zapata Catena Alta Malbec

Not Currently In Auction

Latest Sale Price

November 15, 2020 - $51

Estimate

RATINGS

94Robert M. Parker Jr.

It offers greater aromatic complexity with notes of pepper, clove, leather, and chocolate in addition to violets, black cherry, and blackberry. Medium-bodied and elegant, it has a plush texture, layers of spicy black fruits and minerality.

94The Wine Advocate

It offers greater aromatic complexity with notes of pepper, clove, leather, and chocolate in addition to violets, black cherry, and blackberry. Medium-bodied and elegant, it has a plush texture, layers of spicy black fruits and minerality, excellent balance, and a 60-second finish.

93Wine Spectator

Dark and lush, with a gorgeous mouthfeel to the exotic fig, boysenberry and blueberry fruit flavors backed by intense spice, mocha, loam and licorice notes. Superlong, showing great drive and purity on the finish. A beauty.

91+ Stephen Tanzer

Very ripe black fruit aromas joined by strong torrefaction notes of bitter chocolate, roast coffee, tar and licorice; plenty of evidence of expensive new oak here. Quite ripe and thick but with impressive delineation to the deep dark berry, leather and chocolate flavors... A seriously structured malbec that finishes with substantial broad, dusty tannins.

17.5+ Jancis Robinson

Smoky meaty dark fruit, complex and inviting with a delicate violet component. Toasty spice but not overwhelmed by the oak though there are mocha notes. Very very fine-grained and silky tannins. Refreshing, elegant and long...

REGION

Argentina, Mendoza (Cuyo)

Mendoza on the western edge of Argentina is the nation’s largest and most important wine producing region. With about a billion acres under vine, the region of Mendoza alone has nearly half as many vineyards acres as all of the United States. Located on the edge of the Andes, vineyards here are high, usually 2,000 to 3,600 feet above sea level, yet they enjoy a relatively temperate climate and four distinct seasons. The soil is sandy and alluvial with clay underneath and moderate rainfall encourages growth. Historically Argentina, and Mendoza, grew pink skin grapes for slightly sweet pink or white wines. Those grapes are still grown for bulk jug wine. Since the late 1980s, however, Malbec has been Mendoza’s most important grape, since it makes a rich, dark, robust, age-worth red. The second most important red grape is Bonarda, which is thought to be the same grape that California growers know as Charbono. Italian and Spanish red grapes including Sangiovese, Barbera and Tempranillo were brought by immigrants, and they are grown today. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Torrontés and numerous other red and white grapes are also grown successfully.

TYPE

Red Wine, Malbec

This grape produces a dark red wine with plenty of tannins. It is one of the six grapes allowed for blending red Bordeaux wines. Malbec is also the flagship variety of Argentina. The grape needs a lot of sun and heat to mature. It adds complexity and intensity to blends.