Nicolas Catena Zapata - Mendoza 2020

Decanter.com

97

byGeorgina Hindlethe9/4/2023

Wonderfully aromatic and nuanced on the nose, so alive and open. Energetic and lively on the palate, this has so much spark and brightness to it. Really compelling from the first sip, the tannins ample and cushioning the slick black fruit and accompanying savoury spices. Feels lean and taught, but with so much flair. Really a lovely expression, so generous and well defined. Youthful as you'd expect right now but when this softens it will be a beauty. Just gorgeous, with a minty fresh finish. Wine director Alejandro Vigil, winemaker Fernando Buscema.

The Drink Business

97

byColin Haythe8/30/2023

From a small crop. Very pure. Very classic. Very fruit-forward. Very fresh. Bright, classic, floral and cedary too, the fragrant florality accentuated by the higher proportion of Cabernet Franc. Quite Bordellais in personality. Fresh and with a lovely leafiness. Very aerial and beautifully glossy and finely structured. Cool. Compact. Excellent. I think this is the best vintage of this wine I’ve ever tasted.

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

97

byJane Ansonthe7/3/2023

Measured and steady release of supple brambled fruits, wonderfully fragrant and well judged, this combines depth of fruit flavour with softly expressed tannins, crayon, truffles, black pepper and smoked oak. Such a distinct and vibrant expression of these Left Bank Bordeaux varieties, givien a ripeness in Argentina that they are not always able to get in France, harnessed by the grace and careful precison of the Catena family. Brilliant vintage of this landmark Argentinian wine. Ungrafted vines, Fernando Buscema winemaker, Alejandro Vigil wine director, 3.64ph.

Alexandre Ma

97

byAlexandre Mathe7/1/2023

Indeed, this is the essence I’ve been seeking! Among the best blends of Cabernet Sauvignon from the Mendoza region, Nicolás is the unparalleled choice. Unlike the roaring street races of the 2019 vintage, the year 2020 resembles a Formula 1 car negotiating a high-speed curve, skillfully executing a magnificent apex that allows you to simultaneously experience precision. The aromas of blackberries, sour cherries, and blood oranges flow harmoniously and vividly. The tannins and the rich, well-defined body unite seamlessly, every nuance capturing the quintessence of Mendoza’s terroir flawlessly. This wine, to me, epitomizes the portrait of the king of Argentine wine.

Jamessuckling.com

98

byZekun Shuaithe4/4/2023

Cassis, tobacco, wet stones, iron and baking spices to the nose, showing class, restraint and complexity. Medium- to full-bodied on the palate with super fine tannins. Dry, super elegant and silky with a lengthy, polished finish. Really Bordeaux-like. Juicy and long. 54% cabernet sauvignon from Gualtallary, 25% cabernet franc from Altamira and 21% malbec from both areas. The highest portion of cabernet franc this year helped retain its nervy freshness! This is classy and beautiful. Harvested on March 12th and 13th. Drink or hold.

Wine Advocate

95

byLuis Gutierrezthe11/30/2022

2020 was a very dry and low-yielding year, with 20% to 30% less crop, and the grapes were picked early. The 2020 Nicolás Catena Zapata was produced with a blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc and 21% Malbec, higher in Franc than ever, for the first time more than Malbec, to compensate the warm and dry conditions. The wine is ripe and very peppery, with 13.9% alcohol and a pH of 3.64. It matured in new and second-use French oak barrels for 18 months. It was a healthy crop with concentration and ripeness, and the wine comes through as powerful and quite classical, still a little oaky, with power and balance. 60,000 bottles were filled in January 2020.