Nicolas Catena Zapata 2018 Magnum (1,5l)

Product info about Nicolas Catena Zapata 2018 Magnum (1,5l)

Nicolas Catena Zapata 2018 in magnum is a Mendoza red with real presence. Catena Zapata positions this Cabernet Sauvignon-Malbec blend as an Argentine reconstruction of an older Bordeaux-style blending idea, from a time when Malbec played a more significant role in parts of the Médoc.

For the 2018 vintage, the blend is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Malbec, sourced from high-altitude crus in the Uco Valley: Adrianna in Gualtallary and Nicasia in Paraje Altamira. That origin helps explain the wine's combination of concentration, structure and freshness. The grapes are hand-harvested, fermented in small vinification units, aged for 18 months in French oak barrels, and bottled unfined and unfiltered.

At Drankenshop Broekmans, this is the kind of bottle we would place in front of someone looking for a serious Argentine red with depth rather than mere weight. The magnum format gives it an extra sense of occasion, and the available serving advice points towards decanting before pouring. Grilled ribeye is specifically mentioned as a pairing, and that makes sense with the wine's Cabernet-led structure and firm tannins.

The 2018 vintage has been very strongly received, with 96-point ratings from The Wine Advocate, James Suckling and Vinous. Those assessments reflect the style described in the notes: dark-fruited, compact, fresh, long and structured, with Malbec rounding the Cabernet Sauvignon while Cabernet adds drive and tension. As these are last bottles, the magnum format is becoming all the more noteworthy.

The wine is described as deep purple to blue-black in colour. Aromatically, it moves through a dark-fruited spectrum of blackberry, black cherry, black plum, cassis and blackcurrant, with added notes of violets, tobacco, green olive, eucalyptus, mint, black pepper, Earl Grey tea, cedar, wet earth, graphite, vanilla and dark chocolate.

On the palate it is concentrated, dry and firmly structured. Dark fruit, redcurrant and cassis are joined by spice and a saline, mineral impression. The tannins are fine yet firm, giving the wine a full, compact feel while keeping its freshness intact. The finish is long, with the tension of Cabernet Sauvignon and the rounding influence of Malbec carrying through clearly.