Catena Zapata Nicasia Vineyard

Catena Zapata Nicasia

Wine Description

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.

Remington-Mendoza
Laura Catena sits at a table with a glass of wine
Malbec Grapes
Alejandro Vigil (Chief Winemaker) and Laura Catena Tasting
Malbec Clone in La Piramide Vineyard
Nicolás Catena
Bodega Catena Zapata
Bodega Catena Zapata
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Acclaim
“Powerfully fresh and focused, with concentrated dark currant, plum and raspberry flavors that are supported by firm acidity and tannins. Minerally cut midpalate lead to a pure and lithe-tasting finish.”
— Wine Spectator, Dec 2021
“The 2018 Malbec Catena Zapata Nicasia Vineyard, from a vineyard planted in Altamira in 1996 from an old massal selection, has contained ripeness, reflecting the less warm vintage (after 2017). The grapes were picked very early but with good ripeness because of the low yields in a very dry year. It fermented in open-top barrels with 100% full clusters and indigenous yeasts and matured in 500-liter oak barrels. It’s a balanced and elegant Malbec with some restraint and a very fine thread in the palate, with really fine tannins. It follows the path of the phenomenal 2017, fine and elegant.”
— Wine Advocate, Mar 2021
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Vineyard & Production Info
Vineyard name
Nicasia Vineyard, Altamira en La Consulta, 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
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Winemaking & Aging
Maceration length:
26
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:
18 months
Age of Aging Container:
100% New
Length of bottle aging:
24 months
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Analytical Data
pH level:
3.65
Acidity:
6.5 g/L
Alcohol:
13.9 %