A Magnificent 93-Point Mountain Malbec from Catena For $17.99!

The Catena family has been a driving force in Argentina's rise of high quality wines for well over a century. These pioneers put Malbec and Mendoza firmly on the world wine map and they continue to release compellingly delicious wines.

Today, from their “Appellation” series, we are excited to offer you their intensely juicy and spice-laden 2023 “La Consulta” Malbec. Earning 93-Points from James Suckling, plus a pair of passionate 92-Point reviews from Vinous and Wine Advocate, this high elevation beauty drinks well above its quoted release price of $24, let alone our silly low price of just $17.99!

And, that's just the lead! We also bring you the iconic “Nicolas Catena Zapata” bottling from the 2020 vintage. Stamped with an impressive pair of 98-Point reviews from Jeb Dunnuck and James Suckling, this full throttle Bordeaux style red is drinking great and will effortlessly age for many years to come.

Scroll below for the mouthwatering tasting notes on these gorgeous high mountain wines, then smash on the Big Green Button to grab your bottles!

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2023 Catena "Appellation - La Consulta" Malbec
Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina
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Nestled up high at over 3500ft in Mendoza’s Uco Valley, the La Consulta vineyard has been a source of quality fruit for Catena since the 1950s. The site's sun-drenched days coupled with cool nights yield fruit with exceptional balance, power, and freshness.

Oozing with class, the deliciously dark and expressive fruit of this 2023 bottling combine with vibrant acidity and gentle tannins to deliver a wine that is richly satisfying and so darn easy to drink!

Harmonious, deep and intense, it is no surprise that this outstanding wine has earned such strong praise from Vinous, James Suckling, and Wine Advocate…

“The 2023 Malbec Appellation La Consulta from Uco Valley, aged for up to 13 months in oak barrels, unfolds with plum and cherry aromas, a violet note and an undercurrent of oak. Fairly indulgent and grippy yet velvety, it flows juicily on the palate as every old-vines Malbec from la Consulta should. This was well executed in a warm vintage. Drinking Window: 2025 - 2034.”
          - 92 Points, Vinous - Joaquin Hidalgo (4/2015)

“This is spicy, with aromas of cedar and fresh dark fruit. The palate is delineated and vibrant, with a forward profile and the delicate veil of fruit that characterizes higher-altitude vineyards. Concentrated, yet subtly expressive of its Uco origins. Drink now.”
          - 93 Points, James Suckling (4/14/2025)

"Originating from vines planted in 1996 in alluvial sandy clay soils, the 2023 Appellation La Consulta Malbec offers a savory, supple expression of Uco Valley Malbec. Black-fruited, spice-driven and elegantly creamy aromas introduce a svelte, polished palate that concludes with a saturated, fine-grained finish. Drink Date 2024 - 2028."
          - 92 Points, Wine Advocate (5/1/2025)

Wine Advocate quotes a release price of $24, which matched the median online price. Today, we bring this outstanding, yummy, single-vineyard Malbec to you for an eye-popping 25% less!

Vin Chicago Price: 17.99

The "Classy and Beautiful" Double
98-Point 2020 Nicolás Catena Zapata!

In this jaw-dropping luxury cuvée, Catena sources the best Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon from ungrafted pre-phylloxera vines in their Adrianna cru and combines them with Cabernet Franc and Malbec from their Nicasia cru. The result is arguably Argentina’s greatest red blend. Along with his daughter Laura, Dr. Nicolás Catena Zapata oversees the final cépage (blend), which in 2020 was 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc and 21% Malbec. The result is the exquisite wine we bring you here!

2020 Catena Zapata "Nicolás Catena Zapata"
Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina
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We had the pleasure of tasting the 2020 Nicolás Catena Zapata a few weeks ago. Simply put, it is beautiful. This full-bodied red is loaded with baking spice, green and black peppercorn and hints of cocoa aromas that lead to pure, ripe and powerful red and black berry fruit flavors. (We should put an extra emphasis on the word PURE!)

The mouthfeel is soft and round with well integrated tannins carrying smoothly through the long and complex finish. Also knocked over by its charismatic complexity, Jeb stamps it with this huge 98-Point review...

"Red-fruited, herbal, and seamless on the palate, the 2020 Nicolas Catena Zapata is a blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc, and 21% Malbec. Medium-bodied and well-integrated in terms of both oak and acidity, it has complexity throughout, offering highlights of dark chocolate, black pepper, and sagey mint. A contemplative wine that should age beautifully for another 10-15 years, it was made by Alejandro Vigil from Zapata vines to represent the original Bordeaux blend of the 18th and 19th centuries. Maturity: 2025 - 2040."
          - 98 Points, Jeb Dunnuck (5/22/2025)

"Cassis, tobacco, wet stones, iron and baking spices to the nose, showing class, restraint and complexity. Medium- to full-bodied on the palate with super fine tannins. Dry, super elegant and silky with a lengthy, polished finish. Really Bordeaux-like. Juicy and long. 54% cabernet sauvignon from Gualtallary, 25% cabernet franc from Altamira and 21% malbec from both areas. The highest portion of cabernet franc this year helped retain its nervy freshness! This is classy and beautiful. Harvested on March 12th and 13th. Drink or hold."
          - 98 Points, James Suckling (2/24/2023)

"The 2020 Nicolás Catena Zapata is a blend composed of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Malbec and 20% Cabernet Franc sourced from Paraje Altamira in the Uco Valley. It was carefully aged for up to 16 months in French oak barrels. Garnet in hue. The nose reveals captivating cassis, rose, blackberry, plum and fig aromas harmoniously combined with dried flowers. The palate presents a dry and ample profile, with fine-grained tannins and a juicy flow that leads to a vibrant mouthfeel, brimming with energy. This meticulously crafted red achieves precise balance in a warm vintage. Drinking Window: 2025 - 2040."
          - 96 Points, Vinous - Joaquin Hidalgo (6/2023)

“2020 was a very dry and low-yielding year, with 20% to 30% less crop, and the grapes were picked early. The 2020 Nicolás Catena Zapata was produced with a blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc and 21% Malbec, higher in Franc than ever, for the first time more than Malbec, to compensate the warm and dry conditions. The wine is ripe and very peppery, with 13.9% alcohol and a pH of 3.64. It matured in new and second-use French oak barrels for 18 months. It was a healthy crop with concentration and ripeness, and the wine comes through as powerful and quite classical, still a little oaky, with power and balance. 60,000 bottles were filled in January 2020. Drink Date: 2025-2031.”
          - 95 Points, Wine Advocate (11/20/2022)

“Wonderfully aromatic and nuanced on the nose, so alive and open. Energetic and lively on the palate, this has so much spark and brightness to it. Really compelling from the first sip, the tannins ample and cushioning the slick black fruit and accompanying savoury spices. Feels lean and taught, but with so much flair. Really a lovely expression, so generous and well defined. Youthful as you'd expect right now but when this softens it will be a beauty. Just gorgeous, with a minty fresh finish. Wine director Alejandro Vigil, winemaker Fernando Buscema. Drinking Window: 2026 - 2042."
          - 97 Points, Decanter (7/31/2023)

Median online retail is $110. As usual, we're less. If you are a fans of the great reds of Bordeaux and Napa Valley, this one ought to be in your cellar!

Vin Chicago Price: 97.99