Catena Zapata's flagship is the Nicolas Catena Zapata a Cabernet Sauvignon-Malbec blend. The 2004 Nicolas Catena Zapata is composed of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon and 28% Malbec. It spent 18 months in 100% new French oak. A saturated black purple in color it has an aristocratic perfume of pain grille mineral espresso saddle leather cassis black currant and black raspberry. Opulently textured complex ripe and sweet on the palate it maintains a sense of elegance as well as power. It demands 10-15 years of further cellaring and should still be providing pleasure at age 50. It strikes me as being Argentina's equivalent of a great vintage of Lafite-Rothschild.

Rich and showy with lots of licorice snap plum sauce graphite boysenberry and milk chocolate notes all carried by rich velvety tannins. The long fleshy finish is very accessible. Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. Drink now through 2011. 990 cases imported.