96 JS
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. 60,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in July 2022.
I did a mini vertical of 2020, 2017, 2015, 2012, 2008 and 2004, the first vintage produced. 2017 showed very well, better than when young; 2015 and 2012 had intense notes of graphite and ink, but the 2015 had more strawberries and more complexity; 2012 was a little more advanced; 2008 was herbal and minty (thyme and aromatic herbs); and 2004 felt like it came from a different era, still oaky and resinous.
