2024 Catena - Cabernet Sauvignon (750ml)

Catena Zapata, home to one of Argentina’s most influential wine families, was founded in 1902. Nicolás Catena Zapata, an economist by training, led the move toward premium wines in the 1980s, and his daughter Laura Catena leads the winery’s research arm, the Catena Institute of Wine, which studies soil, climate, and high-altitude viticulture. Winemaking is overseen by Alejandro Vigil, and the family’s pyramid-shaped winery in Agrelo is a Mendoza landmark.

This Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of high-altitude Mendoza vineyards, mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with small additions of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot from Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley. Fruit from separate lots is picked at different times, fermented in stainless steel tanks for about two weeks, and aged around 12 months in French oak barrels, which adds complexity.

Dark ruby with violet tones, the wine opens with cassis, cranberry, and plum, along with floral touches, tar, and a balsamic herbal note. The palate is juicy and smooth, medium to full in body, with fine tannins and fruit-driven flavors. A fresh, long finish carries a light grip.