Es war der Nicolas Cantena Zapata, der einst mit dem ersten Jahrgang 1997 argentinische Weine auf die Landkarte der großen Weinbaunationen setzte, so Jancis Robinson.
Die Trauben für diesen "Original Bordeaux Blend", in dem der Malbec noch gleichberechtigt neben dem Cabernet Sauvignon steht, stammen aus den beiden Lagen Adrianna und Nicasia im Uco Valley.
Die Ernte erfolgt von Hand, und einige Parzellen werden als ganze Trauben vergoren, um die Tanninstruktur und Frische zu verbessern. Die Gärung erfolgt in 500-Liter-Eichenfässern, Beton- und Edelstahltanks bei einer Temperatur von 26-28ºC für etwa 10-15 Tage. Die Mazeration nach der Gärung dauert zwischen 5 und 10 Tagen. Nach der malolaktischen Gärung reift der Wein 18 Monate lang in französischen Eichenfässern.
Blogbeiträge zum Nicolas Catena Zapata 2019
Verkostungsnotiz von James Suckling vom Februar 2022:
This has a complex nose of baked blackberries, grilled plums, dried earth, moss, pine cones, sandalwood, charcoal and cloves. It’s medium-bodied with firm, tightly knit tannins. Wow. So much going on. Layered, seamless and silky. Incredible length. Keeps going. 42% cabernet sauvignon, 30% malbec and 28% cabernet franc. Try this from 2024.
bewertet im November 2022:
The 2019 Nicolás Catena Zapata was produced with 42% Cabernet Sauvignon from Gualtallary (Adrianna Vineyard), 30% Malbec from Altamira (Nicasia Vineyard) and a high percentage of Cabernet Franc (28%), also from Adrianna, which took the place of Cabernet Sauvignon. It fermented in small oak barrels, concrete and stainless steel tanks with a short post-fermentative maceration. Élevage was in first and second-use French oak barrels and lasted for 18 months, including malolactic. This is always quite classical in style, with some spiciness from the barrels and hints of smoke and toast, still very young and undeveloped. It has the traditional Bordeaux-blend character and is herbal, floral and spicy, with a beautiful texture, very nice balance and very fine, chalky tannins. 2019 was a very dry year, and the berries were small, very healthy and delivered powerful wines. It has 13.7% alcohol, mellow acidity and good freshness, reflecting a relatively cool season, and comes though as elegant, with the stuffing and balance to develop nicely over the years in bottle. 66,000 bottles were filled in January 2021.