Last Wednesday was World Malbec Day, quite a clever marketing ploy. What better way than to celebrate with a wine from Argentina's most famous winery, Catena Zapata.
The Malbec Argentino is one of Catena's premium Malbecs, with the name indicating the important role Malbec is playing in Argentina's winemaking.
The 2012 Catena Zapata Argentino has all the hallmarks of modern red winemaking: 100% barrel fermentation, wild yeasts, no filtration, no fining, 24 months in French oak barrels. It it a blend from their two famous high altitude Uco Valley vineyards Adrianna and Nicasia. There are small components of Cabernet Franc and Viognier in this wine.
This wine is almost an anti-Malbec. It is not the juicy, fruity wine of Argentina's Malbec reputation, but rather a pared back, high altitude version. Flavours of sour cherry have a slight spicy and medicinal note, based on crunchy minerality. The strength of the wine is its drive and line with firm tannins on the finish.
This wine is not everybody's cup of wine, but I like it.
Score: 93/++
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