Description
Founded in 1902 by Italian Nicola Catena, Catena Zapata is Argentina’s oldest winery still in the founding family’s hands. The winery architecture is distinguished by its Mayan-inspired pyramid design. Catena Zapata is known for its pioneering role in resurrecting the Malbec grape and in discovering extreme high-altitude terroirs in the Andean foothills of Mendoza. Following in her father Nicolás Catena Zapata’s footsteps, fourth-generation vintner Dr. Laura Catena leads the winery and its think-tank, the Catena Institute of Wine. The institute, founded by Dr. Catena in 1995, collaborates with local and foreign universities and has the ambitious mission of advancing Argentina’s winemaking regions for another 200 years. Its research is published in peer reviewed international journals and shared with the wider world wine community. Today, the Catena sisters, Laura and Adrianna, lead the way in preserving Argentina’s old vines and the country’s ungrafted, massale Malbec heritage.
About this wine: Family matriarch Angélica Zapata, a fierce educator and headmistress of the local country school, instilled a culture of study, hard work and reflection on generations of the Catena family. Although Angélica died young, she transmitted to her children her vision that Argentina’s natural resources and that people were destined for greatness. Her son, Nicolás Catena Zapata, is responsible for Argentine wine finding a place among the best wines in the world.
The Angélica Zapata Chardonnay is a faithful expression of Mendoza’s highest altitude microclimate. Warm, sunny days and cool nights allow the Chardonnay grapes grown at the foot of the Cordon del Plata mountain range to achieve excellent balance and maturity.
From the winemakers about this vintage: “100% Chardonnay grown Angelica Sur Vineyard: San Carlos, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina, 1.100 m. Sandy loam with presence of gravel and limestone.
“What we appreciate about 2021 is how even the weather was throughout Mendoza – overall a bit cooler than average. The yields for white varieties were low due to the October frost. Yields for red varieties were normal, with good concentration, moderate sugars and optimal acidity. Fortunately, there were no important hail events.
“Cold settling for around 12-24 hours in stainless steel tanks. The juice is then fermented for approximately 20-45 days at a maximum fermentation temperature of 19°C. Battonage. Maceration without racking, always in contact with lees. Partial malolactic fermentation. Aged in French oak for 12-16 months. 70% First, second and third use barrels. 13.7% alc.”
92+points, The Wine Advocate “The 2021 Catena Alta Chardonnay is a textbook expression of a barrel-fermented Chardonnay. It fermented with indigenous yeasts in 500-liter barrels, where the wine matured for 14 months. It has good ripeness, 13.7% alcohol and full development of aromas and flavors, waxy apples, white flowers intermixed with smoke and spice, coming through as balanced, complete and seamless, fresh and with a low pH and notable acidity. Drink: Now – 2027”
17/20, Jancis Robinson “… Quite a bit of richness on the nose and then mineral layers and some greenery. That good Argentine clone of Chardonnay? Smoky, with the depth of some California Chardonnays plus more acidity. Drink: Now – 2028″
RRP $78 Our Special Price $62.99 when you buy 6 or more of this wine
