Bodega Catena Zapata
Angelica Zapata Alta Malbec
Mendoza, Cuyo, Argentina
Angelica Zapata Chardonnay 2021 – Mendoza, Argentina 🇦🇷
Overview
Crafted from 100% Chardonnay sourced primarily from high-altitude vineyards in Mendoza, this wine showcases Catena Zapata’s philosophy of combining mountain freshness with Burgundian precision. Beautifully balanced and remarkably age-worthy, it demonstrates why Argentina deserves a place among the world’s finest Chardonnay producers.
Aromas & Flavors
Lemon curd, white peach, ripe pear, Meyer lemon, crisp apple, and citrus blossom unfold alongside subtle notes of hazelnut, vanilla, and delicate mineral undertones. Every layer feels focused, energetic, and seamlessly integrated.
Mouthfeel
The defining feature is its remarkable equilibrium. Vibrant acidity meets a creamy, refined texture, creating a striking sense of precision, tension, and length. Rich without excess, fresh without sharpness, finishing with exceptional clarity and persistence.
Food Pairings
Butter-poached lobster, grilled halibut, roasted chicken, creamy mushroom risotto, scallops, or aged Gruyère.
Verdict
A world-class New World Chardonnay that effortlessly balances richness, freshness, and finesse. Complex enough for the cellar yet irresistible in its youth, it rivals many top-tier Chardonnays from far more celebrated regions.
Did You Know?
The Angelica Zapata range is named after Nicolás Catena Zapata’s mother and is sourced from some of the estate’s highest-elevation vineyards, where cool mountain nights preserve acidity and allow the wines to develop remarkable aging potential.
🍷 Personal Pick
Without hesitation, this has become my favorite Chardonnay from the Southern Hemisphere. The balance between acidity, texture, precision, and tension is simply captivating. It’s one of those rare bottles that makes you want to pour another glass before you’ve finished the first. An outstanding Chardonnay that has unquestionably earned a permanent place in my cellar.
Angelica Zapata Chardonnay 2021 – Mendoza, Argentina 🇦🇷
Overview
Crafted from 100% Chardonnay sourced primarily from high-altitude vineyards in Mendoza, this wine showcases Catena Zapata’s philosophy of combining mountain freshness with Burgundian precision. Beautifully balanced and remarkably age-worthy, it demonstrates why Argentina deserves a place among the world’s finest Chardonnay producers.
Aromas & Flavors
Lemon curd, white peach, ripe pear, Meyer lemon, crisp apple, and citrus blossom unfold alongside subtle notes of hazelnut, vanilla, and delicate mineral undertones. Every layer feels focused, energetic, and seamlessly integrated.
Mouthfeel
The defining feature is its remarkable equilibrium. Vibrant acidity meets a creamy, refined texture, creating a striking sense of precision, tension, and length. Rich without excess, fresh without sharpness, finishing with exceptional clarity and persistence.
Food Pairings
Butter-poached lobster, grilled halibut, roasted chicken, creamy mushroom risotto, scallops, or aged Gruyère.
Verdict
A world-class New World Chardonnay that effortlessly balances richness, freshness, and finesse. Complex enough for the cellar yet irresistible in its youth, it rivals many top-tier Chardonnays from far more celebrated regions.
Did You Know?
The Angelica Zapata range is named after Nicolás Catena Zapata’s mother and is sourced from some of the estate’s highest-elevation vineyards, where cool mountain nights preserve acidity and allow the wines to develop remarkable aging potential.
🍷 Personal Pick
Without hesitation, this has become my favorite Chardonnay from the Southern Hemisphere. The balance between acidity, texture, precision, and tension is simply captivating. It’s one of those rare bottles that makes you want to pour another glass before you’ve finished the first. An outstanding Chardonnay that has unquestionably earned a permanent place in my cellar.
Bodega Catena Zapata — Angelica Zapata Alta Malbec 2021 — Mendoza, Uco Valley. Argentina 🇦🇷
Overview:
Crafted entirely from Malbec by the Catena Zapata family, whose first Malbec vines were planted in Mendoza in the early 1900s, this bottling represents the high-quality mid-tier of the Catena portfolio. The wine delivers aromatic lift, layered fruit depth, and polished structure, bridging everyday drinkability with serious pedigree.
Aromas & Flavors:
Medley berries, ripe plum, baked blueberry, dark chocolate, subtle herbal tones, and violet floral notes.
Mouthfeel:
Creamy and rounded with refined tannins, excellent depth, and balanced concentration. The palate remains generous yet composed, finishing long with polish and freshness.
Food Pairings:
Grilled flank steak, chimichurri lamb, mushroom empanadas, short ribs, aged semi-hard cheeses, roasted vegetables.
Personal Pick:
This is one of those bottles I trust blindly — expressive, consistent, and always overdelivering for the category. A perfect “decant-and-enjoy” Malbec when I want both pleasure and structure in the glass.
Verdict:
A polished, expressive Malbec offering depth, perfume, and excellent value from a benchmark Argentine producer.
🍷 Did You Know?:
The Catena family pioneered high-altitude Malbec plantings in the Uco Valley, proving that elevation dramatically improves freshness, aromatic precision, and tannin finesse in Argentine wines.
Bodega Catena Zapata — Angelica Zapata Alta Malbec 2021 — Mendoza, Uco Valley. Argentina 🇦🇷
Overview:
Crafted entirely from Malbec by the Catena Zapata family, whose first Malbec vines were planted in Mendoza in the early 1900s, this bottling represents the high-quality mid-tier of the Catena portfolio. The wine delivers aromatic lift, layered fruit depth, and polished structure, bridging everyday drinkability with serious pedigree.
Aromas & Flavors:
Medley berries, ripe plum, baked blueberry, dark chocolate, subtle herbal tones, and violet floral notes.
Mouthfeel:
Creamy and rounded with refined tannins, excellent depth, and balanced concentration. The palate remains generous yet composed, finishing long with polish and freshness.
Food Pairings:
Grilled flank steak, chimichurri lamb, mushroom empanadas, short ribs, aged semi-hard cheeses, roasted vegetables.
Personal Pick:
This is one of those bottles I trust blindly — expressive, consistent, and always overdelivering for the category. A perfect “decant-and-enjoy” Malbec when I want both pleasure and structure in the glass.
Verdict:
A polished, expressive Malbec offering depth, perfume, and excellent value from a benchmark Argentine producer.
🍷 Did You Know?:
The Catena family pioneered high-altitude Malbec plantings in the Uco Valley, proving that elevation dramatically improves freshness, aromatic precision, and tannin finesse in Argentine wines.
