“When all is said and done, Catena Zapata is the Argentina winery of reference – the standard of excellence for comparing all others.” - Wine Advocate

And this is their most prized wine. A singular expression of the very best that’s possible.

It always attracts huge scores - 99 and 96 points for this vintage. Considering the quality here, the price - make that OUR price (40% OFF) - seems unimaginable.

Catena Zapata reigns supreme in the Argentine winemaking world. And this, their flagship Malbec, well it might be the greatest example of the varietal in the world. It towers above the simpler, one-dimensional offerings. Crushes top Cabernet, pummeling many a First Growth into submission.

Antonio Galloni’s Vinous calls Argentino “a knockout” because “this bottling represents the best 12 barrels from a high-altitude planting of vines more than 70 years old.”

Laura Catena outdid herself here. The label is something else. We’ve never passed a bottle around to share and study with such wide-eyed scrutiny. It depicts four females who represent the variety’s history in France and its rise in Argentina over centuries. Eleanor of Aquitaine represents the birth of Malbec. The Immigrant symbolizes the movement to the New World. ‘Phylloxera’ personifies the death of Malbec. And Adrianna Catena represents Bodega Catena Zapata and the rebirth of Malbec in their high-altitude plantings.

But the wine?! THE WINE. Sourced from 100yr old vineyards at a staggering 3,500 feet elevation, it exudes Bordeaux like structure and polish. At its core you find abundant blueberry and plum encircled by fascinating and pronounced minerality. The complexity unravels further - roasting caramel, touch of bell pepper, spices, exotic wood, fresh tanned leather, turned earth. It’s all there. A proper decanting is recommended, or even better, let this lay down for a few years. It has a VERY long road ahead.

Thanks to our tight relationship with Catena, we managed to get a tiny allocation, and if you’re among the lucky ones reading this it’s yours at the world’s lowest price by a WIDE margin.

Make your move.

99 points - James Suckling “This is made from over 100-year-old vineyards and offers blackberries with blue fruit and dark chocolate. Shows bark and black truffle undertones, too. Tight and more focused than in past vintages. The quality of the tannins is more precise and fine. Blackberries and black truffles at the end. Drink or hold.”

96 Points - Wine Advocate “It feels like there was a big change in the 2019 Catena Zapata Malbec Argentino, a year with a vibrant palate and very clean and focused aromas and flavors. They fine-tuned the irrigation and viticulture, and that seems to have increased the precision of the wine. They also did a selection and left the grapes from the borders of the vineyard, which were affected by the paths and other stuff. It’s still a little more voluptuous than the wines from Gualtallary, as this mixes grapes from Angélica (Lunlunta) and Nicasia (Altamira). It’s nicely textured and tasty, medium-bodied and with a vibrant finish. 25,200 bottles produced. It was bottled in November 2020.”