2015 Catena Zapata Malbec Nicasia Vineyard

I also tasted the 2015 Malbec Catena Zapata Nicasia Vineyard, which had been in bottle since July 2017. 2015 is a warmer and riper year within the three consecutive cooler El Niño vintages. It's juicy, showy and round, with moderate acidity (relatively speaking). 12,480 bottles produced.

Bright medium ruby. Blackberry, licorice and violet on the nose. Far tighter and less sweet than the 2014 version; a more minerally and linear version of Malbec that lacks the expansiveness of the '14. Finishes with a firm edge of tannins and terrific length. A bit less ripe--and more green--than the 2014, with tighter tannins. A bit of a question mark owing to its serious tannic spine, this wine would appear to offer excellent potential longevity but it will require patience.