IT'S ALL IN THE DETAILS

Vinous 93 points - Bright ruby-red. Aromas of blackberry, cassis and tobacco leaf are lifted by a violet topnote; higher-pitched and more pristine than the 2016 example. Then juicy and rather refined on the palate, showing a restrained sweetness and good energy to its purple fruit, violet and licorice flavors. Finishes firm and long, with substantial broad, dusty tannins. Perhaps the best vintage yet for this bottling, which was launched in 2014. This wine is reportedly lower in alcohol and lower in acidity than the 2016 bottling..July/2018

Wine Advocate 91 points - The blend of the 2017 DV Catena Tinto Historico is the same as the previous year, remaining as 72% Malbec, 21% Bonarda and 7% Petit Verdot, since that’s the field blend that is planted in the plot in Lunlunta used for this bottling. 2017 is slightly riper than 2016, yet the wine has kept its freshness and balance. 74,400 bottles produced..June/2018

I devoted nearly a full day to tasting at the Catena Zapata winery in Agrelo as Argentina’s #1 producer offers excellent to otherworldly wines at a range of price points-and that’s not even including the superb wines made by Nicolas Catena’s daughter Laura and son Ernesto, and the Bodega Aleanna label of his own multi-talented winemaker Alejandro Vigil. - From Argentina’s Wines Enter the World Stage (Jul 2018) by Stephen Tanzer

Don Domingo Vicente Catena, Nicolas Catena Zapata’s father, was famous in the 1930’s for his deep dark red wine blend. This blend was sold in the French-styled bistros of Buenos Aires - the Paris of South America - as the finest wine from the Mendoza region. This wine, DV Catena Historic Red Blend, is made in honor of Don Domingo Catena and his legendary abilities as a Master of the Assemblage.