April 17 is World Malbec Day. Well, this means Argentinian Malbec, doesn't it? There is no better way than celebrating with the Penfolds of Argentina, Catena Zapata. I have a bit of a soft spot for Malbec, but it has to be high quality.
The 2012 Catena Zapata Malbec Argentino is built around an interesting blending concept. The component from their leading 1400 meter Adrianna vineyard is co-fermented with Viognier, the component from the 1000 meter Altamira Nicasia vineyard is co-fermented with Cabernet Franc. The wine is matured in new French oak for 2 years; wild yeast, no fining, no filtration - high class, no expenses spared.
The wine shows a deep purple colour, no signs of ageing, even though under cork.
This is a full-bodied wine, complex and layered. It is as mouth-filling as Grange. This wine tastes built like a skyscraper, maybe 50 levels (Grange would be 70). Blackberry, plum, and mulberry fruit give way to meaty flavours, but the wine is neither caked nor overripe. While the flavours are powerful, the tannins are only medium. This gives the wine an elegant feel, as the fruit/meat combination sails down the palate to the end.
This is a terrific wine which will live for at least another 10 years.
Score: 96/+++
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