Bodega Catena Zapata : Birth of Cabernet 2022

Characteristics and Tasting Tips for the Birth of Cabernet 2022 from Bodega Catena Zapata

Tasting Notes

Colour

The colour is a deep, dense inky black, almost opaque at the core, with dark purplish-red highlights on the rim, a sign of great concentration.

Nose

The nose unveils a rich bouquet of ripe dark fruits (blackcurrant, blueberry, blackberry) and red fruits such as redcurrant, enhanced by floral touches of violet. More spicy and woody notes blend in, from vanilla and cedar to dark chocolate, while hints of tobacco, dried herbs and pencil lead bring a more tertiary dimension to the whole.

Palate

On the palate, the wine is rich and concentrated, carried by a wave of dark and red fruits (blackcurrant, blueberry, red liquorice) while retaining a lovely freshness. The firm yet polished tannins shape a palate that is both dense and elegant, supported by a long, lightly smoky finish marked by tobacco and dark chocolate.

Food and Wine Pairing

The estate recommends this wine with beef brisket, a slow-cooked dish whose tenderness answers the wine's tannic richness. More broadly, this profile lends itself to braised or grilled red meats, whose texture and flavour pair naturally with the structure and freshness of this Cabernet.

Serving and Cellaring

We recommend decanting this Birth of Cabernet 2022 for about an hour before serving, allowing the bouquet to blossom fully and the tannins to soften.

A Mendoza Cabernet Sauvignon Shaped in the Heights of Agrelo

The Estate

Founded in 1902 in Mendoza by Nicola Catena, Bodega Catena Zapata is a family-owned Argentine estate now led by Dr Laura Catena, a biologist and physician and the fourth generation of the family. A pioneer in exploring high-altitude terroirs at the foot of the Andes, the estate relies on six historic vineyards spread between Agrelo and the Uco Valley. Its international reputation has been confirmed by distinctions such as those from Drinks International and the Vivino Wine Style Awards.

The Vineyard

Birth of Cabernet 2022 comes from La Pirámide Vineyard, located in Agrelo, in the Mendoza wine region, at an altitude of 950 metres. The soils are of alluvial origin, with a clay-rich upper layer resting on a subsoil of rounded stones, offering both sufficient water reserves and good drainage. The grapes are harvested by hand.

Winemaking and Ageing

To craft this Birth of Cabernet 2022, the hand-harvested grapes are fermented in a combination of ovoid concrete tanks, small stainless steel tanks and French oak roll-fermentors, at a temperature of between 26 and 28 °C, for 12 to 18 days. Total maceration lasts 18 to 22 days. For this vintage, all of the Cabernet Franc in the blend was vinified as whole bunches, adding further structure and complexity. This Argentine wine is then aged for 18 to 24 months in first-, second- and third-use French oak barrels.

Grape Varieties

This Birth of Cabernet is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, the dominant variety, complemented by Cabernet Franc.