2005 Catena Zapata Malbec Adrianna Vineyard

Full ruby-red. Musky dark fruits and bitter chocolate on the brooding nose, with a strong kirsch note emerging with aeration. Powerful and deep but youthfully closed, with terrific grip to the flavors of cassis, dark chocolate and minerals. Quite closed and young today, but with its fine-grained tannins and slowly building persistence this single-vineyard malbec appears to be built for a positive evolution in bottle.

The 2005 Malbec Adrianna Vineyard was also aged for 18 months in new French oak. Opaque purple/black, it is more expressive aromatically as well as more structured than the Nicasia cuvee. Opulent on the palate, it is dense and extracted with gobs of spicy black fruits and enough structure to unwind for another 6-8 years. Drink this lengthy effort from 2015 to 2030. The Catena Zapata portfolio is stunning from entry-level to top-of-the-line. As an aside, during my visit to Catena-Zapata in April, 2008, I tasted many barrel samples of 2006s and 2007s. The components, particularly of the 2006s are astounding; the best is yet to come. Importer: Billington Imports, Springfield, VA; tel. (703) 455-4700; fax (703) 455-0450; www.billingtonwines.com

The 2005 Malbec Adrianna Vineyard was also aged for 18 months in new French oak. Opaque purple/black, it is more expressive aromatically as well as more structured than the Nicasia cuvee. Opulent on the palate, it is dense and extracted with gobs of spicy black fruits and enough structure to unwind for another 6-8 years. Drink this lengthy effort from 2015 to 2030. Dec 2008, www.robertparker.com