Bodega Catena Zapata Malbec Alta Angelica Vineyard 2006

Though closed at first pouring, this wine soon becomes aromatically beautiful with a wonderful, heady nose, full of sweet floral scents that jump from the glass and evolve over time, sustaining interest and showing great complexity, adding notes of sour plum, white ginger, anise, coffee, tobacco, cut grass, rubber and chocolate to lilac, jasmine and other tropical aromas. This is an excellent example of the nose of a wine being more beautiful than the palate. Once open, the nose remains delightful and interesting over at least three or four hours. The palate also opens fairly tight and closed before launching into sour plums, pomegranate, persimmon, blackberry and other dark fruits, with a tart and peppery, but short, finish. Over time, add herbaceous, earthy and spicy layers, including cut grass, flowers, wood, dirt and minerals, and the palate becomes thicker and deeper, though tastes seem to have been boiled down, or over-brewed with too many tea bags, in a rubber container. The palate becomes a little more pleasant after each glass breathes, but the joy of this wine is in the nose.

Though closed at first pouring, this wine soon becomes aromatically beautiful with a wonderful, heady nose, full of sweet floral scents that jump from the glass and evolve over time, sustaining interest and showing great complexity, adding notes of sour plum, white ginger, anise, coffee, tobacco, cut grass, rubber and chocolate to lilac, jasmine and other tropical aromas. This is an excellent example of the nose of a wine being more beautiful than the palate. Once open, the nose remains delightful and interesting over at least three or four hours. The palate also opens fairly tight and closed before launching into sour plums, pomegranate, persimmon, blackberry and other dark fruits, with a tart and peppery, but short, finish. Over time, add herbaceous, earthy and spicy layers, including cut grass, flowers, wood, dirt and minerals, and the palate becomes thicker and deeper, though tastes seem to have been boiled down, or over-brewed with too many tea bags, in a rubber container. The palate becomes a little more pleasant after each glass breathes, but the joy of this wine is in the nose.

Smells great but taste is a bit dry and the spice and woodiness is a bit strong for me

Tasted Dec/09 after decanting 4 hours. Great wine. Amazing depth of flavor, capable of aging many years.

had this vintage at Gaucho grill in Picadilly in November. decanted only for about 30 minutes, with an extra hour or two could have been near perfect. Nose of cherry, blackberry and tropicals. Mid palate carries very well balanced acidity and tannins. Finish is medium length and introduces cigar box, cinnamon and spices.