Birth of Cabernet

Catena Zapata is one of Argentina's most influential fine‑wine estates, renowned for pioneering high‑altitude viticulture and elevating Argentine cabernet sauvignon and malbec to global recognition. Founded in 1902, the winery shifted dramatically in the 1980s when Nicolás Catena introduced modern vineyard management, clonal selection, and exploration of extreme altitudes – most notably the Adrianna Vineyard at nearly 1,500 metres.

Birth of Cabernet celebrates the family's historical dedication to the variety, drawing on fruit from high‑elevation sites where cooler nights preserve acidity and structure. Vinification typically involves small‑lot fermentation, precision temperature control, and extended maceration for tannin refinement. Ageing in French oak adds aromatic complexity while retaining cabernet's varietal clarity. The resulting wine marries new world purity with old world poise, reflecting Catena's scientific approach to terroir expression and its quest to redefine the potential of Andean cabernet on the world stage.

Tasting
NOTES

A wine that packs a punch, the nose is rich and heady with notes of jammy fruit and flowers: cassis, plums, damsons, blackcurrants, blueberries and violets share a glass with tobacco, fire-roasted bell peppers, black olive tapenade, cinnamon and chocolate. On the palate it's full-bodied and concentrated with fine-grained tannins, a healthy acid spine, and a long finish. An elegant wine built to age that will come into its own in a few years.