Catena Zapata

Nicasia Vineyard

The Nicasia vineyard is a small, specially selected number of rows in Lot 1 of the Catena family's Altamira vineyard. Planted in 1996, the Malbec vine are on own roots and part of a massal population from the Catena family's historic, 80 year old Angelica vineyard. Early shoot removal in September and a cluster thinning on December lead to an extremely low yield of 1.2 tons per acre (2.5 tons per hectare). With plantation density of 1,925 plants per acre (4,000 plants per hectare), this translates into a yield of 22 ounces (625 grams) per plant.

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Tasting Notes

Catena Zapata Nicasia Vineyard Malbec is a dark violet Malbec. Ripe black-and-red currant, raspberries and an elegant touch of french oak are some of the aromas that we can appreciate from this special malbec from one of the Catena´s highest family vineyards. Very complex and expressive palate, with a creamy violet flavor witih ripe blueberries, cassis, vanilla and spicecake.

Food Pairing

Pairs well with roasted veal, shiitake mushrooms, and beef tenderloin.

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Tasting Notes

Food Pairing

Pairs well with roasted veal, shiitake mushrooms, and beef tenderloin.

Brand Materials

Tech Sheet Bottle Shot Acclaim

POINTS

BEST VALLEY CHOICE: “The Nicasia Vineyard was planted in 1998 in the La Consulta zone at an altitude of 1,300 meters in the Uco Valley. It’s made entirely from whole-cluster grapes to enhance the fruit, plus 7% cabernet franc to boost the acidity and especially the tannins. The ripe fruit flavors are intoxicating, but the intense acidity shifts everything upward to a much fresher place. The fruit is deep and dense, with notes of violets, pencil lead, and black cherries. This wine needs a couple of years in the bottle, although it’s delicious today with charcuterie.”

Descorchados

POINTS

“Enormously spicy with a dense tannin structure that makes this Malbec spectacular and slightly erotic, too. A breathtakingly long finish that makes you want more. The balance of this is so good that you can drink it right now and if you can resist it then this probably has a couple of decades of ageing potential.”

James Suckling

POINTS

“This won’t come out until later this year, as Catena is still on the 2014 vintage, but it needs a little more time anyway. Sage and oregano aromas segue into a palate of blackberry and dark plums framed by supple tannins.”

POINTS

“I also tasted the 2015 Malbec Catena Zapata Nicasia Vineyard, which had been in bottle since July 2017. 2015 is a warmer and riper year within the three consecutive cooler El Niño vintages. It's juicy, showy and round, with moderate acidity (relatively speaking).”

POINTS

“Drinking well now, this wine has plenty of sweet oak, plums, cherries and a hint of mint.”

“Whole cluster and whole berries barrel fermented in new French oak barrels, wild yeasts and malolactic fermentation, aged in barrel for 24 months plus bottle aging for another 24 months before release.  Juicy, ripe, and luscious, with plum and red fruit, violets, and spice, expressive and complex.”

Wine Along the 101

Vineyard & Production Info

Production area/appellation:

Paraje Altamira

Vineyard name:

Nicasia Vineyard, 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

Winemaking & Aging

Maceration length:

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:

24 months

Age of Aging Container:

100% New

Length of bottle aging:

24 months

Analytical Data

pH level:

3.7

Alcohol:

14 %

About the Vineyard

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.

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