Catena Zapata Nicolas - $119.00

Catena Zapata Nicolas(No rating yet)

Picture a blind tasting where some Argentinian cowboys (and cowgirls) destroy some French first growths, not just once but again and again. Pricey yet, but actually the lowest priced wine of this ratings pedigree by a wide margin. As in repeatedly kicks Haut Brion and Gaya’s butt.

10% whole cluster and 90% whole berry fruit is hand-loaded into 225-500 liter new French oak barrels for a 100% barrel fermentation for a period of 20-30 days, allowing seamless oak integration. The fermentation temperature is kept low, extracting intense aromas, and the cap management is done by hand to ensure soft, gentle flavors and tannin extraction. Wild yeasts. Alcoholic and malolactic fermentation in barrel leaves considerable lees and sediment. The wine is aged in French oak barrels for 24 months and an additional 24 months in bottle before release. 210 separate row microvinifications from different lots and harvest times.

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