2019 Nicolas Catena Zapata Mendoza & 2020 Antiyal Escorial Maipo Valley (2 bottles) - Sydamerika

2019 Nicolas Catena Zapata - Mendoza
The Nicolas Catena Zapata is made from massal selections of vines planted in Argentina in 1850. In this case, it's a blend of two high-altitude crus from Mendoza's Uco Valley: Adrianna, covering twelve hectares of stony soil at an altitude of 1,450 meters, and Nicasia, at 1,080 meters, where nine hectares of ungrafted Malbec grow. Here, Malbec is perfectly suited to the arid soils of this region, producing full-bodied, smooth red wines with warm aromas of very ripe fruit, spices and licorice. One of South America's best and most promising wines.

Rating : 96/100 Robert Parker; 98/100 James Suckling.


2020 Antiyal Escorial - Maipo Valley
This cuvée is made from Carménère grapes from one of the estate's best and smallest plots, named Escorial, with just 0.8 hectares. It is farmed organically by Álvaro Espinoza and his family. The volcanic and basaltic soils have a high mineral and organic content. The grapes are harvested by hand and fermented in stainless steel tanks using indigenous yeasts. Antiyal is a Mapuche word meaning "children of the sun", a nod to the use of the cosmos in his biodynamic practice.

Rating : 95/100 Tim Atkins.

Wine stored in a natural cellar.

Shipment to Europe only.