Catena Zapata "Nicolás Catena Zapata" Red Blend

Bold. Heritage-rich. A high-altitude triumph rooted in Mendoza’s legacy.
In the rugged heights of the Andes’ foothills, where Mendoza’s high-altitude vineyards stretch toward the sky and the wind carves character into the grapes, the Catena family crafted a wine that would change perceptions of Argentine wine forever. Nicolás Catena Zapata is not merely a bottle—it’s a statement: that Argentina, once overlooked, can claim a place among the highest echelons of global fine wine.

This wine draws from only the most exceptional parcels—the historic ungrafted Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon massal selections planted decades ago by the Catena estate in vineyards such as Adrianna (Gualtallary) and Nicasia (Paraje Altamira). The site is remote, the altitude significant (up to 1 450 m above sea level in the Adrianna cru) and the soils layered—calcareous gravels, sandy loam, the kind of terroir that forces vines to struggle, concentrate and reflect their place in the glass.

When you pour a glass, you sense both power and precision. Aromas of blackcurrant, cassis, graphite and violets unfold with hints of tobacco leaf, dark berries and mineral clarity. On the palate, the wine is structured yet poised—firm, chalky tannins support layers of black cherries, plum, cassis, black olive, a whisper of eucalyptus and forest under-brush, with a finish that stretches long and promises evolution.

For wine lovers in Ireland seeking wines of presence and provenance, this is the kind of bottle that belongs on the table when you want to mark a moment. It pairs beautifully with the gravitas of a well-aged steak, a rich game dish, or even the resurgence of a top Irish beef-based recipe—but it also rewards patience and cellar time, offering future layers that reflect the slow dance of bottle evolution.

Why we love it:
Nicolás Catena Zapata stands at the intersection of New World ambition and Old World structure. The high-altitude vineyards impart lift and freshness; the legacy of vine selection and minimal intervention give depth and authenticity; the final blend evokes the great Bordeaux blends of past centuries, where Malbec once held sway beside Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc. It’s a wine that says: this is Argentina, re-imagined, elevated—and ready to be part of your memorable dinners, in Ireland or beyond.