Catena Zapata Nicasia Vineyard

Catena Zapata Nicasia Vineyard Malbec bottle image

Wine Description

Catena Zapata Nicasia Malbec is made from a meticulous vine selection in the best, historic rows of the Catena family’s estate vineyards. These Zapata vines are carefully hand tended and produce extremely low yields. The grapes are micro-fermented in new French oak barriques and the wine is then aged for 18 months in new French oak. This wine is made in very limited quantities.

Remington-Mendoza
Laura Catena sits at a table with a glass of wine
Malbec Grapes
Alejandro Vigil (Chief Winemaker) and Laura Catena Tasting
Malbec Clone in La Piramide Vineyard
Nicolás Catena
Bodega Catena Zapata
Bodega Catena Zapata
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Acclaim
“The 2013 Malbec Catena Zapata Nicasia Vineyard is produced with grapes from the vineyard that names it--a vineyard planted in 1997 in the Altamira zone of Valle de Uco. It's mostly Malbec with some 4% Cabernet Franc, but the two grapes fermented together. It has less Cabernet Franc than other years because 2013 was fresh enough that just that pinch provided enough of the character they are looking for. They call this "the most Malbec of our Malbecs" and it has the textbook aromas of violets and red berries with perfectly integrated oak. The palate is also elegant and fresh and showcases the telltale round tannins of Malbec. This is truly outstanding.”
— Luis Gutierrez, Dec 2016
“Very pleasing herbal, mint, plum notes leading onto a citrus finish. Harmonious and elegant, there is an extra dimension here with potential to develop.” (GOLD)
— Decanter World Wine Awards, May 2017
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Vineyard & Production Info
Vineyard name
Nicasia Vineyard, Altamira en La Consulta, Lot 1
Vineyard size
100 acres
Soil composition
Sand
Training method
VSP
Elevation:
3,593 feet
Vines/acre:
2200
Yield/acre:
1.2 tons
Exposure:
Northwestern
Year vineyard planted:
1996
Harvest time:
April
First vintage of this wine:
2004
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Winemaking & Aging
Maceration length:
26
Varietal composition:
100% Malbec
Fermentation container:
Vertical open Barriques & small stainless steel tanks
Length of alcoholic fermentation:
17 days
Fermentation temperature:
77 - 86 °F
Maceration technique:
Manual punch down
Malolactic fermentation:
Yes
Type of aging container:
Barriques
Size of aging container:
225 L
Type of oak:
French oak
Length of aging before bottling:
18 months
Age of Aging Container:
100% New
Length of bottle aging:
24 months
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Analytical Data
No relevant data were found.