Description

Score: 96 pts James Suckling

It all began with a group of bees drawn to the nectar of a vineyard. Unknowingly, they carried pollen from Cabernet Franc flowers to Sauvignon Blanc flowers. From this natural crossing, a new shoot began to form on the mother vines. Years later, the vigneron returned to his vineyard—abandoned during the war—and tasted the grapes from this new vine, falling completely in love. Those grapes would later be known as Cabernet Sauvignon.

The allegory of grape varieties as animals offers an unusual interpretation of history. The fox, Cabernet Franc, embodies the attributes of Cardinal Richelieu, the grape’s first famous admirer. The siren—half woman, half bird—represents Sauvignon Blanc in all its wild splendor. To the right, their offspring, Cabernet Sauvignon, is portrayed as a world traveler, journeying from the French Pyrenees to the Catena Zapata pyramid at the foothills of the Andes in Argentina.

Technical Sheet

• Winery: Catena Zapata
• Type: Red Wine
• Vintage: 2021
• Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
• Blend: 50% Cabernet Sauvignon (La Pirámide), 40% Cabernet Sauvignon (Angélica Sur), 10% Cabernet Franc (Angélica Sur)
• Aging: Full malolactic fermentation, aged 12–24 months in oak barrels (1st, 2nd and 3rd use)
• Winemaker: Alejandro Vigil
• Alcohol: 13.8%
• Region: El Cepillo and Tupungato, Valle de Uco, Mendoza
• Serving Temperature: 16–18°C (61–64°F)
• Country: Argentina
• Aging Potential: More than 10 years