Review: **** $$ Bodega Catena Zapata Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina, 2004 = BEST VALUE

Check out today's pricing and retail availability for Catena Malbec.

By way of background, opening thoughts: This is a classic Mendoza, Argentina, malbec, available widely.  This sample was cellared til eight years from vintage date.

Original tasting and review : This is Bodega Catena Zapata Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina, 2004, finished at 13.8% alcohol.   For the vintage, the following vineyards generated grapes: Angelica, La Piramide and Altamira. 

In the glass: Deep magenta, opaque from half an inch in.

On the nose: Poured cool with a brief decant and swirled vigorously, shows deep robes of purple fruit.  From the aroma, seems like this will be layered, deep and luscious.

On the palate: The primary elements on the palate are in fact full with deep fruit and solid oak and tannic backbone, still showing freshness and a touch of menthol after eight years since vintage date.  Has held up extremely well to the cellaring, and does seem ready to drink now.

In summary: Overall, rates four stars on the five-star Spirit of Wine scale, making this a best  value.

(c) Copyright 2011 Spirit of Wine, all rights reserved.  If you are a winery, distributor or marketing agent and you would like to see your (or your client's) wine featured at Spirit of Wine, here are two options: 1) Wait, pray and hope - we may find you someday; 2) Submit a wine for review.  No charge.  Particulars are here.   If you are reading this full posting on any site other than Spirit of Wine, chances are it is a copyright violation.

Check out today's pricing and retail availability for Catena Malbec.