Catena Zapata - Adrianna Chardonnay White Stones 2021 (750ml)
Price: $125.00
| Producer | Catena Zapata |
| Country | Argentina |
| Varietal | Chardonnay |
| Vintage | 2021 |
| Sku | 10232 |
| Size | 750ml |
Wine Advocate: 98 Points
The 2021 White Stones Chardonnay is subtler and more elegant a little closed with moderate ripeness and alcohol (12.5%) and a mineral palate with strong chalky sensations. It might be worth reproducing their explanation about this wine one of the finest whites in Argentina: "The term 'white stones' refers to the composition of said rows of soil with white oval stones covered by gravel. The vineyard 'Adrianna' is planted at an altitude of almost 1500 meters above sea level in the district of Gualtallary in Tupungato. The stony soil prevents deep root growth providing optimum drainage. These soils are very poor in organic matter and contribute to support vines' permanent stress conditions. The cool nights allow for very slow ripening optimal acid retention and low yields." This is serious and tasty. 7300 bottles produced. Some of the vineyards from Catena are suffering from phylloxera and parts of some vineyards have to be grubbed up and replanted. Published: Nov 30 2022
James Suckling: 98 Points
A very mineral flinty chardonnay full of wet stones lime and some green fruit. Austere and chalky on the medium-bodied palate really transparent and elegant with super bright and beautifully integrated acidity. Pure linear and long. Drink or hold. Zekun Shuai Senior Editor
Vinous: 98 Points
The 2021 Chardonnay Adrianna Vineyard White Bones hails from Gualtallary Uco Valley. It was aged for up to 16 months in used French barrels. An alluring yellow hue with a greenish sheen. The cool year imparted a distinctive complex character featuring herbal aromas enriched by hop sage and thyme alongside hints of curry and acacia over a delicate layer of rose before late-developing pear and green apple notes. The palate has a lean focused character with a chalky texture and electric saline energy enhancing the refreshing mouthfeel. A truly outstanding mountain Chardonnay. - By Joaquín Hidalgo on July 2023 If there?s a single winery that embodies the international expansion of Argentine wine it?s Catena Zapata. In the 1980s the third generation of the family led by Nicolás Catena Zapata set out to make a name for themselves in markets outside of Argentina where the family winery had grown to be one of the biggest in the 1970s. After selling off their mass-market brands Nicolás Catena Zapata focused on building a portfolio of wines to compete with the best in the world. He thus embarked upon a vineyard planting program higher up in the mountains in search of cooler climates: firstly in Agrelo Luján de Cuyo with the La Pirámide vineyard then in Villa Bastías with Domingo and Gualtallary with Adrianna both in Tupungato and subsequently in Paraje Altamira with Nicasia to mention the most famous. Today Laura Catena Nicolás' daughter serves as the most prominent figurehead of the winery. She leads a distinguished team of experts including Alejandro Vigil and his team at the winery as well as Fernando Buscema and his team at the Catena Institute of Wine. With Laura Catena's overall management these teams collaborate with a science-driven approach creating Parcel Wines such as the Chardonnays White Bones and White Stones. These wines were initially crafted in 2006 and starting from 2012 they have established a benchmark standard for high-altitude Chardonnays in Argentina both in terms of style and price. Each wine is produced from a distinct soil plot in the Adrianna Vineyard marking a significant turning point in Argentina's white wine landscape. In the upcoming years we will taste a bunch of new whites hailing from upper vineyards in the Uco Valley.
