2011 Catena Zapata Malbec Argentino

I was truly impressed with the nose of the 2011 Catena Zapata Malbec Argentino, a blend of grapes from Adrianna (Gualtallary) and Nicasia (Altamira) vineyards in the Uco Valley. Even if the grapes are sourced from the same vineyards as the Adrianna and Nicosia bottling, this wine is quite different. Here the plots are selected from the granitic parts that give it a different, austere texture. There is a seamless granularity with the tannins that go in a straight line, and keep going and going. Super!

(from later- picked vines in the Adrianna and Nicasia vineyards): Bright, deep ruby. Classic Malbec aromas and flavors of blackberry, bitter chocolate, licorice and violet display an almost liqueur-like sweetness. Wonderfully rich and fine-grained; at once thick and bright, showing a sexy sweetness that verges on exotic. Finishes sappy, glossy and powerful, with noble tannins melting into the wine's chocolatey fruit.

A blend of two sub-regions within Mendoza, this is the most New World of Catena's Malbecs with dense colour and super concentrated fruit and oak flavours. Rich and heady with succulence and some blackberry fruit sweetness.

Dry oak, black fruit and floral notes suggestive of violet are the aromas that set off this tannic, clamping, deeply structured Malbec. Flavors of mocha, maple, savory blackberry and roasted plum end with a mix of creaminess and strapping tannins. Drink through.

"Offers lots of peppery notes to the sinewy dried berry and roasted plum flavors. Well-structured, with medium-grained tannins supporting the finish, which features alluring accents of paprika.