Angelica Zapata Malbec

Angelica Zapata Malbec is from Mendoza, Argentina. It is produced by the Bodega Catena Zapata winery. The winery was founded in 1902 by Italian immigrant Nicola Catena. Currently, It is run by his Nicola’s grandson, Nicolas Catena.

Some quick facts about this wine:

• Aromas: The flavors and aromas include black plum, spice box, and violet.
• Mouthfeel: This wine is medium body, which makes it feel similar to a Merlot in your mouth.
• Finish: The long finish is something that really stands out.
• Style: This is a New World wine.
• Food Pairing: This wine pairs well with red meat (lamb, steak, burgers) and flavorful cheese.

Angelica Zapata Malbec Wine Review

Watch the video below to see a full wine review.

I love including tidbits of history in my wine reviews. Nicola Catena, left Italy in 1898 when Europe suffered from a severe famine. An eternal optimist, young Nicola dreamed of a day when wine from Mendoza could rival wine from Bordeaux. At the time, Malbec was only used as a blending grape in Bordeaux, but Nicola suspected that the high altitude of the Argentinian Andes would allow Malbec to shine. He was right, although it took almost a century for his hunch to be fully realized.

Nicola’s eldest son, Domingo, built the business to become one of the largest vineyard owners in Mendoza. Like many long-standing businesses, they weathered lean years. In the 1960s, it cost more to harvest the grapes than they made in profit.

Nicolas Catena took over from his father Domingo. Armed with a PhD in economics, he led the winery through challenging political times in Argentina. In the early 1980s, he moved to California for a sabbatical, working as a visiting scholar at UC Berkeley. He and his wife Elena spent weekends visiting wineries in Napa Valley, with their daughter Adrianna in a backpack. Nicolas returned to Argentina with the California vision to challenge Bordeaux. He sold the company’s bulk-wine division and focused on fine wine. In time, Catena Wines became the first wineries in Argentina to export their wine. The Catena family laid the groundwork for Argentina becoming a prominent player in the world wine stage.