Nicolas Catena Zapata 04

We arrived at Hilton head island. First stop was our usual wine store where they have a special room called the "candy store". We picked up "Nicolas Catena Zapata 2004". This comes in a "body builder" bottle. It has all the attributes of a new world wine should have. Nice sweet fruits, vanilla, caramel on the nose. Fruits forward but not candied with layers of nice flavors ending in nice smooth tannin. Everything is smooth and nice but we did not think the wine was extraordinary. Nice long finish with chocolate note. RP gave it a 98 but we are not sure we agree. It is 90 but not 98 (who cares about our opinion). In any case, it is nice to look over the ocean sitting on the balcony sipping a good wine. It is still the tail end of the season here with more people than last time we were here, but it is nice and warm with a cold breeze in the evening. Sound of the surf.
Here is the info on this wine form wine.com.

"72% Cabernet Sauvignon; 28% Malbec. The core Cabernet Sauvignon fruit component was sourced from Lot 3 of La Pirámide vineyard. With exceptional homogeneity and balance, these Cabernet Sauvignon grapes offer rich cassis flavors, supple texture and excellent structure. Two additional components of Cabernet Sauvignon were sourced from Lot 2 of the Domingo Vineyard and Lot 5 of the Adrianna Vineyard. These high altitude, cool climate vineyards provide fruit with ripe red currant flavors, strong mineral tones and notes of eucalyptus and black pepper.

The core Malbec fruit component was sourced from Lot 3 of the Adrianna Vineyard, the highest Malbec vineyard in Mendoza. This extremely cold, mountain microclimate produces exceptionally concentrated Malbec grapes with dark fruit flavors, perfumed violet aromas and well structured tannins. A second component is sourced from Lot 1 of the southerly located Altamira vineyard. Another cool area for Malbec, the fruit from this vineyard presents ripe cassis flavors and well balanced, racy acidity."

We will keep you informed what we drink while we are here. (we are sure you are interested, Noooootttt!)