2019 Nicolas Catena Zapata

Glossy fruit with cherry and blackcurrant. Fine tannins, restrained fruit. Dense and powerful in the middle, there's a long road ahead of this wine before it reaches complexity. (RH)

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.

Harvest was up to three weeks early in some plots. 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Malbec and 28% Cabernet Franc. This represents the highest proportion of Cabernet Franc in the blend by 10% – the cooler year gave it the herbal edge desired by the winemaker. This is the second-coolest vintage of the last decade after 2016 , with dramatically reduced yields. Purple fruit and flowers give a powerful, aromatic sweetness to the nose. The palate has a graphite and dried-herb edge, which must be due to the high proportion of Cabernet Franc. Chalky and peppery through the middle, this has just the right level of edginess to make it intriguing. Layered and persistent in its floral character on the finish. (TP)