Catena Zapata’s 2018 Malbec is a great wine to have on-hand for your BBQ’s this summer, as it goes well with everything coming off the grill. This Malbec even stands-up to the heat in Chimichurri sauce, which we smothered on everything, including the burrata and grilled toasts.
2018 Catena Malbec $24.99
This wine is made from 100% Malbec. The grapes were harvested from three, high altitude, estate vineyards. The crushed grapes first underwent cold maceration for five days in order to extract aromas. Next, the grapes were fermented for 12 days using wild yeast, followed by post-fermentation maceration for 12-22 days. The wine spent 12 months in a combination of first, second and third fill barrels prior to bottling.
Although the 2018 Catena Malbec drinks well upon opening, my tasting notes were written after it had been in the decanter for three hours. This wine has aromas of black cherry, blackberry, dried blackcurrant, black pepper and sweet spice. This is a dry, full bodied wine with medium+ acidity and medium tannins. The palate offers black cherry, dried blackcurrant, sweet spice and notes of mincemeat, with black pepper, liquorice and dried herbs on the lingering finish.