This outstanding Malbec is made from grapes grown high altitude vineyards in Mendoza, which were fermented with wild yeasts for 12 days with post ferment maceration for 19-22 days followed by 12 months aging in barrel, including first, second and third use barrels. It tastes smooth, dark, full bodied, fleshy, succulent and complex… An incredible red wine.

Argentina’s signature grape, Malbec, was introduced to the country’s biggest wine region, Mendoza, by Frenchman Michel Pouget in the mid 1850s, but it has since been discovered that not all Malbec vines brought into the country were exactly the same. And the family that has done more to advance the understanding, high quality expression and understanding of Argentinian Malbec is the Catena family, whose Zapata Malbec is one of our favourite wines in store; big, bold and full bodied but with elegance to burn, thanks to its silkiness. 

The Catena family has arguably done more for the quality and reputation of both Malbec and the Argentinian wine industry than any other company, advancing the understanding of growing grapes at altitude, high up in the foothills of the Andes where hot days, high sunshine hours and cool nights ripen the grapes and retain elegance.

100% Malbec grown on shallow, alluvial, loam and clay-loam soils on sites that are over a 1000 metres above sea level in Lujan de Cuyo in Mendoza, Argentina. 

This is all about juicy Argentine Malbec fruit that we all love so much and seems a given from this part of the world. Handpicked grapes are macerated for 10-15 days and then fermented cool prior to ageing in stainless steel and 15% French oak barriques for eight months.

Dark, dry and full bodied Argentinian Malbec made from a blend of grapes from two great Malbec vineyard areas, Agrelo and Lulunta. This accessibly priced, drink-me-now red has no oak maturation, which accentuates the bold fruity flavours of this wine. 

Agrelo is situated 35 km south of Mendoza city and considered to be a great area for intensely flavoured Malbec grapes. Lulunta is another well regarded sub region of Mendoza area.

Another Malbec cracker from the Catena stables.

The Alamos Malbec has a dark purple colour with violet highlights. The nose offers bright black berry aromas with light floral notes and a touch of toast. The mouth-feel is full and rich, with ripe, concentrated cassis and black raspberry fruit interwoven with a touch of chocolate and sweet spice from light oak aging. The finish shows ripe, silky tannins."

Mendel Winery embodies the union of Roberto de la Mota - one of Argentina’s most respected and experienced winemakers - with an established Argentine family. Together they are dedicated to producing wines of unquestionable superior quality expressing the quality and character of their very old Malbec vineyards in Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina.

Parker's Wine Advocate, Luis Guttierrez (2017 vintage)

"The approachable, creamy and expressive 2017 Lunta Malbec has notes of ripe berries and a touch of beeswax, pollen and honey that I find in many Mediterranean wines. This comes from the classical zone of Mendoza, and in 2017, the grapes achieved good ripeness; it's juicy and with a soft palate. Some 60% of the volume matured in barrique because the year delivered wines with more structure and winemaker Roberto de la Mota thought it needed a little bit more of élevage. A textbook example of a classical Malbec from Mendoza. 85,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in February 2019."

Vinous, Stephen Tanzer (2017 vintage)

"Bright ruby-red. Somewhat inky scents and flavors of black and red fruits and licorice pastille, lifted by herbs. Slightly bound-up but there's excellent dark fruit intensity here, not to mention good density and a fine-grained texture for the price. Roberta de la Mota makes this wine from very old vines (roughly 90 years) in riverbed alluvial soils at the base of the Lunlunta foothills behind his winery in Mayor Drummond."

Stunning Cabernet Franc from Argentina, showing another string to this powerful South American red wine bow - dark blackcurrant and ripe black plum aromas are followed by the fleshy appeal of a lush palate texture and long finish. 

A great wine for drinking now and also to age for eight to nine years and beyond...

The fruit for this succulent Malbec is 50% from the Uco Valley, with a majority of calcareous soils and 50% from Luján de Cuyo with loam clay soils. The vineyards are located between 950 and 1.400 metres above sea level. In our vineyards, we do not use any herbicide or systemic product, managing it in an agro-ecological way.

The wine is vinified with 20% whole clusters grapes, and the rest is destemmed. Fermentation is in small concrete vats with indigenous yeasts and at temperatures between 24º and 26ºC. Maturation continues in small concrete vats until next harvest.

This is a succulent juicy expression of Malbec (as it should be) with red fruits combining with floral aromas and black pepper. Ripe tannins lead to a soft and opulent finish.

Argentinian Malbec is one of the best winter wines around with its dark smooth full body, richness of black plum flavours and spicy notes adding delicious complexity to every sip. This one is certified organic and offers a lively, lovely complex expression of the great Malbec grape. 

Just when we’re thinking how great modern Chardonnay is, along it comes in a surprisingly complex, surprisingly dry blend with Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris. And it comes from one of the chilliest places in the world of wine today, Patagonia in South America.

Flavours of tropical fruit, citrus and Turkish Delight all combine in this funky fleshy, full bodied white which was aged in French oak foudres and concrete vats for nearly 20 months.

This wine is dry with 2.18 grams per litre of residual sugar. 

Bodega Otronia is situated in the heart of Patagonia at parallel 45 south, the last frontier for winemaking and grape growing. High winds, a cold and dry climate all make organic wine production relatively smooth sailing here.

Belasco de Baquedano is a leading winery located in the Mendoza region of Argentina. The winery is lucky enough to have very old vines of original Malbec vines first planted in 1910 - these old vines are the secret to Belasco De Baquedano's success. The old vines consistently produce wines that are full-bodied, juicy and complex with layers of flavour development.

Here we find Torrentes, Argentina's flagship white grape, made in  a juicy fruit forward style.

Belasco de Baquedano is a leading winery located in the Mendoza region of Argentina. The winery is lucky enough to have very old vines of original Malbec vines first planted in 1910 - these old vines are the secret to Belasco De Baquedano's success. The old vines consistently produce wines that are full-bodied, juicy and complex with layers of flavour development.

100% Malbec from vines that are over 100 years old.  6 months in oak barrels.

This blend boasts an elegant aromas and flavors of plums, cherry, and violet flowers. It is ripe with strawberries and dark fruit. This full-bodied red finishes with well integrated tannins and moderate oak.

This blend can pair with a handful of dishes but a few we highly recommend trying are: baked ham with a honey, Dijon and thyme glaze or an old fashioned meat loaf.

Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot were blended together to make this top red blend which comes from Argentina's Mendel winery and is made from ungrafted vines planted in 1928 in Lujan de Cuyo in the west of Mendoza. Dark velvety ripe fruit flavours envelope concentrated black plum flavours, spicy aromas and notes of vanilla and toast in a complex full bodied wine which drinks superbly now and can age for up to a decade, and then some. 

A great gift for a special friend or in your own wine cellar.

Located in the far southerly growing region of Altamira en La Consulta, the Nicasia vineyard is the only planting of the special Catena Selection of Malbec cuttings in this traditional area for Malbec. La Consulta was Nicol?s Catena?s father Domingo?s prefered Malbec location.

10% whole cluster and 90% whole berry fruit is hand-loaded into 225-500 liter new French oak barrels for a 100% barrel fermentation for a period of 17 days, allowing seamless oak integration. The fermentation temperature is kept low, extracting intense aromas, and the cap management is done by hand to ensure soft, gentle flavors and tannin extraction. Wild yeasts. Alcoholic and malolactic fermentation in barrel leaves considerable lees and sediment. The wine is aged in French oak barrels for 24 months, followed by 24 months of aging in bottle before release.

Nicasia Vineyard: 3,593 ft (1,095 m). Altamira in La Consulta District, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina. Very shallow loamy topsoil with surface gravel and gravelly (large stones) dry river bed subsoil - optimal drainage. Malbec. Plant selection: Catena Cuttings malbec selection.

?This is really complex and exotic with dark fruit, flowers and asphalt undertones. Full-bodied, soft and silky with a long and flavorful finish. A soft and sexy red. Drink now, but will improve with age.? 

96 /100

James Suckling 

Structure and purity of blackberries, ripe currants and concentrated ripe fruit all intermingle in this beautiful Argentinian red wine. Full bodied and intense with the balance of fresh acidity and ripeness all add up to a great red wine with presence. Drink now or keep for another 9 to 10 years. This wine will last the distance.