Catena Zapata Nicolas Catena Zapata 2016

Catena Zapata Nicolás Catena Zapata 2016

97 pts Decanter:
The 2016 vintage is a classic example, a superb blend of Cabernet Sauvignon with 31% Malbec and 8% Cabernet Franc that’s still in its infancy. Subdued aromas of cassis, black cherries and nuanced herbaceous and tobacco notes. A lovely fluid entrance builds on concentration and complexity. Malbec’s seductive juiciness joins a vertical Cabernet structure, tannins and integrated oak, with a long, lingering finish. A wine to wait for.

96 pts Wine Advocate:
The 2016 Nicolás Catena Zapata has not been released, and they are going to sell the 2017 before it. This is the one wine, together with the Adrianna Vineyard Mundus Bacillus Terrae Malbec, that is sold through the négoce in Bordeaux for Europe and Asia. This is backward, serious and austere, with terrific balance and great length. This is a blend of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon from Gualtallary and 31% Malbec from Nicasia. There is also some 8% Cabernet Franc that seems to add a touch, and in 2016, it didn't need irrigation because there was enough rain. This seems to follow the style of the 2013, a little tight, perhaps because of the Cabernets. This is nuanced and complex, with very good integration of the varieties and the oak, fruit, acidity and mineral texture. One of the best vintages for this bottling.

“阿根廷最好的酒，幾乎都出自於Catena Zapata（Wine Spectator）”。 Catena Zapata是Robert Parker《世界頂級葡萄酒及酒莊全書》一書中唯一收錄的南美洲酒莊，Parker 稱其為：阿根廷葡萄酒界的標杆，是衡量其他酒莊是否卓越的標準。莊主Nicolás Catena Zapata在Mendoza 的地位就如同Barbaresco的Angelo Gaja以及Napa Valley的Robert Mondavi，是阿根廷葡萄酒的開拓者和改革者。

Nicolas Catena Zapata是以莊主名字命名的旗艦款，只在好年釀造。被Parker 評價為：“相當於阿根廷的Lafite-Rothschild。”是阿根廷首款能夠媲美世界鼎級酒款的葡萄酒。此酒曾在Blind Tasting 比賽中打敗了Château Latour、Haut Brion、Solaia、Opus One等屢次摘得第一或第二名。在世界葡萄酒品鑑舞台實在也是不容忽視，在Parker 的評分中，從2003-2014這12年的平均分達到96.1分!實屬阿根廷酒王旗下的第一酒款。

70年代作為經濟學教授的Nicolás Catena Zapata出訪加州進行學術研討的偶然情況下，被Napa的葡萄酒產業所震驚，勵志改變自己國家葡萄酒產業現狀。2001年，Nicolás Catena Zapata帶領著自己的Catena Zapata 1997 ，轉戰美國和歐洲多國。邀請當地多位知名酒評家，與Château Latour, HautBrion, Solaia, Caymus和 Opus One等名莊進行Blind Tasting。在比賽中Catena Zapata 1997 接連獲得第一、第二名的佳績，一戰成名，從此阿根廷葡萄酒成為了世界優質葡萄酒國家的一員。並且酒莊先後12次入選美國權雜誌《Wine & Spirits》全球百大酒莊，莊主Nicolás Catena Zapata更是獲得2009年Decanter年度人物（Man of The Year）最高榮譽獎。