Catena Zapata Birth of Cabernet 2022 75cl

The name is a nod to history: Nicolás Catena planted Cabernet in Mendoza when everyone assumed only Malbec belonged there, and Birth of Cabernet celebrates that gamble paying off. This 2022 is 90% Cabernet Sauvignon with 10% Cabernet Franc, made by Alejandro Vigil.

The fruit comes from the La Pirámide vineyard in Agrelo, Luján de Cuyo, at 950 metres on clay over rounded stones. Fermentation happens across concrete eggs, small steel tanks and French oak roll-fermentors, before eighteen to twenty-four months in French oak. It's a thoughtful, modern winemaking approach aimed at freshness as much as power.

Vinous and James Suckling both rated it highly — Suckling at 96 points. Expect a cigar-box nose of tobacco, dark truffle and ripe olive over cassis and sweet spice. The palate delivers blackcurrant, tobacco and black pepper, with what Suckling described as "piles of dusty tannins" building in a crescendo, held in check by real focus and freshness. The finish is layered and genuinely long.

At £68.99 this is proof that Mendoza does high-altitude Cabernet with grip and precision, not just plush fruit. Give it a couple of years if you can, or decant it hard and enjoy it now.

How to Serve

Serve at 16–18°C in a large glass. This young, tannic Cabernet wants an hour or two in a decanter to soften and open.

Where to Drink It

Wiltons on Jermyn Street for classic game and roasts. Scott's in Mayfair for the beef. Or Brat in Shoreditch, where the fire does the rest.

Food Pairings

A dry-aged sirloin is the natural partner — the marbled fat tames those dusty tannins. Venison with a dark, peppery sauce is another strong shout.