Catena Alta Melbec

Name: Catena Zapata Catena Alta Melbec
Brand: Catena Zapata
SKU: WRW0366AD

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SKU:WRW0366ADCheck availability

JS94

WA93

Strong Vintage91/100

Wine Enthusiast Wine Vintage Chart 2026 Edition rates Argentina/Mendoza Reds for 2022.

A vintage grade rates the growing season in this wine’s region — not this specific bottle. Source.

From our sommelier team

Researched by our team from producer and independent sources — not supplied by the seller.

A single-vineyard-sourced, barrel-aged Malbec from Catena Zapata's historic high-altitude blocks in Mendoza, built for structure and aromatic lift rather than everyday drinking.

Producer history

Bodega Catena Zapata traces its founding to 1902, when Italian immigrant Nicola Catena planted an early Malbec vineyard in Mendoza. His grandson, Nicolás Catena Zapata, is credited with modernizing Argentine winemaking from the 1980s onward, importing European

and Californian techniques and pioneering plantings at extreme high altitudes in the Uco Valley, including the Adrianna Vineyard (planted 1992, named for his daughter).

The winery is now led by Dr. Laura Catena, Nicolás's daughter, who also founded the Catena Institute of Wine, a research center studying high-altitude terroir and Malbec genetics. Head winemaker Alejandro Vigil has been with the estate since 2002. The producer

is widely credited within the trade for restoring Malbec's reputation after it had been reduced to a minor blending grape, and for establishing high-altitude Mendoza sites as serious fine-wine terroir.

Signature pairings

Grilled ribeye steak
The wine's ripe tannin structure and dark fruit concentration are built to cut through the fat and char of grilled beef, a pairing consistent with the Argentine tradition the grape itself is known for.
Braised lamb shank
The savory, slow-cooked richness of braised lamb matches the wine's oak-derived spice and soft tannin, without overwhelming its fruit.
Kaeng Massaman neua (beef massaman curry) (แกงมัสมั่นเนื้อ)
Massaman's warm spices (cardamom, cinnamon, clove) echo the wine's own baking-spice and vanilla oak notes, while its coconut-milk richness is substantial enough to stand up to the wine's full body and moderate tannin.

About this bottle

Product information compiled from producer, importer and reference sources.

Ripe Mendoza Malbec with dark fruit, vanilla oak, and structured tannins—elegant and food-friendly.

Catena Zapata's Catena Alta Malbec is a benchmark expression of Mendoza's signature varietal, showcasing the region's ability to produce dark-fruited, structured reds. The 2022 vintage delivers dominant blackberry and dark plum on the nose, with supporting notes of vanilla and oak from careful winemaking.

Medium-full body and medium-high tannins provide backbone without heaviness, making this wine approachable now yet capable of modest cellaring. The finish carries subtle tobacco and earth, adding complexity to an otherwise fruit-forward profile.