阿根廷名園《CATENA ZAPATA卡帝那‧沙巴達酒莊》，莊園造型如大蜘蛛般盤據在門多薩省(Mendoza)海拔1000公尺的高原上。80年代，莊主Nicolas Catena受到加州卡本內致力提升品質的影響，決定改變以量取勝的策略，改走品質至上的做法。經過多年摸索之後，決定以阿根廷特有的馬爾貝(Malbec)葡萄品種當作重心，並勇於挑戰世界知名酒款，贏得全球酒展與酒評家的讚嘆，從此建立起《CATENA ZAPATA卡帝那‧沙巴達酒莊》成為阿根廷酒王的地位。最讓人津津樂道的是Catena Zapata酒莊在2001年英國舉辦的第十屆葡萄酒比賽中奪魁。這場盲目試飲的酒款涵蓋法國五大酒莊頂級酒Château Latour, Haut-Brion、加州頂級酒與阿根廷《CATENA ZAPATA卡帝那‧沙巴達酒莊》等，結果全體在場的專業人士評定《CATENA ZAPATA卡帝那‧沙巴達酒莊》為第一名，奠定了卡帝那‧沙巴達酒莊頂級酒莊在世界舞台的地位。世界最具權威葡萄酒專家Robert Parker 也在其出版的「全球最出色酒莊」書中將《CATENA ZAPATA卡帝那‧沙巴達酒莊》列為唯一入選的阿根廷酒莊。「Decanter 品醇客雜誌」更將《Nicolas Catena Zapata》置於封面，並列為新世界偶像酒的今日巨星酒款。《CATENA ZAPATA卡帝那‧沙巴達酒莊》同時也是法國頂級酒莊Chateau Lafite Rothschild 正式的合作夥伴，酒莊的國際地位早已獲同行專業人士的肯定。
WA: 96 Drink: 2025-2032
The 2019 Nicolás Catena Zapata was produced with 42% Cabernet Sauvignon from Gualtallary (Adrianna Vineyard), 30% Malbec from Altamira (Nicasia Vineyard) and a high percentage of Cabernet Franc (28%), also from Adrianna, which took the place of Cabernet Sauvignon. It fermented in small oak barrels, concrete and stainless steel tanks with a short post-fermentative maceration. Élevage was in first and second-use French oak barrels and lasted for 18 months, including malolactic. This is always quite classical in style, with some spiciness from the barrels and hints of smoke and toast, still very young and undeveloped. It has the traditional Bordeaux-blend character and is herbal, floral and spicy, with a beautiful texture, very nice balance and very fine, chalky tannins. 2019 was a very dry year, and the berries were small, very healthy and delivered powerful wines. It has 13.7% alcohol, mellow acidity and good freshness, reflecting a relatively cool season, and comes though as elegant, with the stuffing and balance to develop nicely over the years in bottle. 66,000 bottles were filled in January 2021.
