We recently had a discussion about the most influential and iconic winemakers in each Country… In the US, Robert Mondavi  and Andre Tchelistcheff highlight the conversation, and in Italy, Angelo Gaja reigns supreme.  In Argentina the exchange was centered around Nicolás Catena Zapata.  The largest commonalty between each of these paragons is that they’ve inspired an entire wine region and the people surrounding it.  Catena Zapata pioneered high-altitude farming in Argentina and some would compare their top vineyards to the best Vineyards of Bordeaux.  Their wines always conjure up emotion, inspiration and passion. You can actually taste palpable levels of these rare qualities in their wines.  It sounds expensive right? At less than thirty per bottle, wines that exude this much class are rare…

 

Arising from the family’s historic vineyards in San Carlos, this pure expression of high-elevation Cabernet Franc was sourced from around 3,500 feet.  The soils there are Alluvial sandy loam with thick calcareous layers that provide excellent drainage and gives the fruit a clear expression of it’s origins.  The 2014 was cellared for around 12 months in barrel and now with ample time in the bottle, this wine provides the perfect mix of deep, supple flavors, supporting layers of dark fruits, clay and minerals with hints of eucalyptus and black cherry…