COLOUR
Red
TYPE
Still
VINTAGE
2024
GRAPE
Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot
PRODUCER
Bodega Catena Zapata
REGION
Mendoza
CHARACTERISTICS
Body
Full
Sweetness
Dry
Acidity
Medium - High
Finish
Medium - Long
Intensity
Pronounced
Tannins
AROMAS & FLAVOURS
ABOUT THIS WINE
Named in honor of Nicasia, the great-grandmother of Dr. Laura and Adrianna Catena, this wine represents Bodega Catena Zapata's dedicated exploration of historic Bordeaux-style blending in the high-altitude terroirs of Mendoza's Uco Valley. While the Catena family is globally renowned for pioneering extreme high-altitude Malbec, the Nicasia Vineyards collection showcases how other classic varieties excel in these mountain conditions. Sourced from select alluvial plots in San Carlos and Altamira at elevations exceeding 1,000 meters, this Cabernet Franc-dominant blend captures the unique combination of intense mountain sunlight and cool alpine nights, resulting in a wine of remarkable structural elegance and regional typicity.
ALCOHOL
12.6%
AVG. PRICE
€13
STYLE
Classic
VEGAN
YES
SULPHITES
When to drink
Now or Later
Ideal temperature
16-18°C
INTERESTING FACTS
Fact 01
Named after Nicasia Catena, the pioneering great-grandmother of the current generation of the Catena family.
Fact 02
Sourced from extreme high-altitude vineyards in Altamira, situated up to 1,230 meters above sea level.
Fact 03
Unlike most Argentine reds, this blend uses Cabernet Franc as its spine, representing a modern shift toward Bordeaux-style blends in Mendoza.
FOOD PAIRING
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WINE MAKING PROCESS
The winemaking process is designed to preserve the vibrant fruit and structural integrity of the high-altitude fruit. Grapes are hand-harvested in mid-April and undergo fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks at a maximum of 27°C for 12 days using indigenous yeasts. A total maceration period of 18 days allows for optimal extraction of color and velvety tannins. Following fermentation, the wine undergoes 100% malolactic fermentation to soften its natural acidity. It is then aged for 12 months in a selection of new and used French oak barrels, adding complexity and refining the wine's structural frame before bottling.
