Catena Zapata
Adrianna Vineyard White Bones Chardonnay 2021
| Denomination | N/A |
|---|---|
| Size | 0,75 l |
| Alcohol content | 12.0% by volume |
| Area | Mendoza (Argentina) |
| Grape varieties | 100% Chardonnay |
| Aging | 12–16 months in French oak barrels (2nd, 3rd and 4th use) |
- Unique terroir: limestone soils with fossils at 1,450 metres, Gualtallary area (Mendoza)
- Vinification in wood: fermentation for 45–95 days at 16°C, bâtonnage and partial malolactic fermentation
- Aromatic profile: hints of citrus, apple and dried pear, honeysuckle; chalky and saline notes
- Taste and finish: full structure, lively acidity; long, dry and saline mineral finish
- Serving and pairings: temperature 12–14°C, decant for 1 hour; ideal with tuna, swordfish and shellfish
Description
What kind of wine it is
Adrianna Vineyard White Bones Chardonnay is a refined still white wine produced by Catena Zapata. This wine showcases the characteristics of Chardonnay in their purest form, with an elegant and structured profile. The bouquet reveals inviting aromas of apple, dried pear and delicate honeysuckle, combined with fresh citrus notes. On the palate, it displays a full-bodied and enveloping character, perfectly balanced by a vibrant and energetic acidity. The smooth texture is enriched with hints of toasted bread, brioche and incense, culminating in a dry finish with an intense and clean saline persistence.
Where it comes from
The grapes come from the Adrianna Vineyard, from selected rows of lot 1 in the Gualtallary district, Mendoza. Grown at 1,450 metres above sea level, the vines benefit from significant temperature variations, with cool nights that slow ripening and preserve the fruit’s natural acidity. The wine’s name refers to the uniqueness of the terroir: the alluvial soil composition, highly draining and poor, conceals a bed of limestone enriched with white stones and fossilised animal bones, remnants of an ancient river. This particular formation gives the sip a tangible and profound chalky mineral texture.
How it is produced
After cold settling in steel tanks to preserve aromatic purity, the process continues with fermentation in French oak barrels at controlled temperatures. The use of bâtonnage and a partial malolactic fermentation provide great tactile breadth to the structure. Ageing continues for over a year in French oak barrels of several uses, ensuring perfect integration without overpowering the grape variety’s identity. Excellent paired with firm-fleshed fish, shellfish and poultry, it expresses its character best after about an hour’s decanting.
History and Curiosities
For over four generations, the Catena family has been cultivating vines at the foot of the Andes. At an altitude of 1,450 metres, in the Gualtallary district, lies the extraordinary Adrianna Vineyard. The White Bones Chardonnay 2021 is produced from the finest rows of lot 1, whose name refers to the particular stratification of the soil, rich in fossilised animal bones deposited by an ancient river. This unique terroir gives the wine an incredible mineral tension, making it a label of absolute prestige, awarded 99 points by James Suckling and 98 by Robert Parker.
Awards
-
2021
99/100
James Suckling is an influential American wine critic and journalist who worked at Wine Spectator for 30 years. He left the magazine in 2010 to start his own website and guidebook (JamesSuckling.com). He specialises in Italian and Bordeaux wines.
-
2021
98/100
The prestigious international wine guide from the renowned Robert Parker, the world's most experienced and trusted wine taster.
-
2021
98/100
Vinous is the online guide from Antonio Galloni, one of the world's leading wine connoisseurs.
-
2021
95/100
Wine spectator is the most influential wine guide on the internet.
Tasting notes
Perfume
Color
Taste
Serve at:
12 - 14 °C
Longevity:
10 - 15 years
Decanting time:
1 hour
Nicolás Catena would never use the word about himself - a less boastful spirit, it’s hard to imagine - but he has been the quiet revolutionary in the Catena family history book. He has charted the family’s path to the new frontier of winemaking, drawing on lessons learned from the land and in the classroom, then applying his education to dare to challenge the conventional wisdom.
Taking the reigns of the family vineyards and wineries in the mid 1960s, he concentrated on expanding distribution throughout Argentina during years of turmoil in the 1970s. But in the early 1980s, Nicolás left Argentina to become a visiting professor of economics at the University of California, on the world-renowned campus at Berkeley. The political and economic situation in Argentina was difficult, with a military government that had just declared war on the United Kingdom and inflation rates of more than 1000 per cent per year.
Nicolás set out to develop his own selection of Argentine Malbec clones planting 145 clones in the La Pirámide vineyard. Of these, he selected the best five and began to plant them in different terroirs and altitudes.
Read more
| Name | Catena Zapata Adrianna Vineyard White Bones Chardonnay 2021 |
|---|---|
| Type | White still |
| Denomination | N/A |
| Vintage | 2021 |
| Size | 0,75 l |
| Alcohol content | 12.0% by volume |
| Grape varieties | 100% Chardonnay |
| Country | Argentina |
| Region | Mendoza |
| Vendor | Catena Zapata |
| Story | History and Curiosities For over four generations, the Catena family has been cultivating vines at the foot of the Andes. At an altitude of 1,450 metres, in the Gualtallary district, lies the extraordinary Adrianna Vineyard. The White Bones Chardonnay 2021 is produced from the finest rows of lot 1, whose name refers to the particular stratification of the soil, rich in fossilised animal bones deposited by an ancient river. This unique terroir gives the wine an incredible mineral tension, making it a label of absolute prestige, awarded 99 points by James Suckling and 98 by Robert Parker. |
| Origin | Gualtallary district, Tupungato Alto region, Uco Valley, Mendoza (Argentina) |
| Soil composition | Alluvial origin, calcareous soil (rich in limestone and chalky layers), with white oval stones; mixture of gravel/pebbles, sand and clay; marine deposits. |
| Fermentation temperature | 16 °C |
| Fermentation | 45–95 days |
| Production technique | Fermentation in French oak barrels with batonnage and partial malolactic fermentation |
| Wine making | Cold settling for 12 hours in stainless steel tanks at 6°C. Fermentation in French oak barrels for 45–95 days at 16°C. Batonnage. Partial malolactic fermentation. |
| Aging | 12–16 months in French oak barrels (2nd, 3rd and 4th use) |
| Total acidity | 8.3 gr/L |
| PH | 3.2 |
| Allergens | Contains sulphites |