White Wines    Chardonnay    Argentina    South America   
Wine.com - Buy wines, wine clubs, gift baskets and more
My Rating (circle) :
Date Printed: 12/2/2008
(search item no. 93336)
International Wine Cellar rating: 91 points
The Wine Advocate rating: 90 points
PRICE ON 12/2/2008: $15.29

ratings pedigree (past vintages):
2005 Wine Spectator rating: 88 points
2004 International Wine Cellar rating: 90 points
2003 Wine Enthusiast rating: 90 points
2002 The Wine Advocate rating: 90 points
2001 Wine Spectator rating: 90 points
2001 Wine Spectator rating: 90 points
2001 The Wine Advocate rating: 90 points
2001 The Wine Advocate rating: 90 points
2001 International Wine Cellar rating: 90 points
2001 Wine & Spirits rating: 90 points
2001 Wine & Spirits rating: 90 points
2000 The Wine Advocate rating: 90 points
2000 Wine & Spirits rating: 90 points
2000 Wine & Spirits rating: 90 points
1999 International Wine Cellar rating: 90 points
1997 Wine Enthusiast rating: 92 points

Winemaker's Notes:

 "Catena Zapata’s 2006 Chardonnay was sourced from three estate vineyards and fermented with natural yeasts. It then spent 10 months sur-lie in French oak, 40% new. Light gold-colored with a slight green tint, it exhibits a nose of slate, toast, butterscotch, pear, and apple. Medium-bodied, the wine is nicely balanced by crisp acidity, and the flavors are intense and persistent. Drink this outstanding value over the next 1-2 years. When all is said and done, Catena Zapata is the Argentina winery of reference – the standard of excellence for comparing all others. The brilliant, forward-thinking Nicolas Catena remains in charge, with his daughter, Laura, playing an increasingly large role. The Catena Zapata winery is an essential destination for fans of both architecture and wine in Mendoza. It is hard to believe, given the surge in popularity of Malbec in recent years, that Catena Zapata only began exporting Malbec to the United States in 1994."
-Wine Advocate
My Notes:

Additional wines from Catena:

About Catena:

 In 1902, Nicola Catena, an Italian immigrant, planted his first vineyard in Mendoza, Argentina. The winery has been in family hands for three generations. For the past two decades, owner, Nicolas Catena Zapata and his team of winemakers and viticulturalists have studied the different microclimates and terroirs of Mendoza to determine the best areas and vineyard techniques to grow the winery’s many varietals.

Nicolas Catena Zapata believes that the terroir of Mendoza’s high altitude wine country (3,000 - 5,000 feet) is unique to the world. The temperature, low humidity and scarce rainfall create ideal conditions for making distinctive wines that can stand with the best in the world. In 2001, Nicolas Catena Zapata inaugurated a new winery inspired by Mayan architecture. The unprecedented, state-of-the-art winery is located at 3,100 feet above sea level in the heart of the 18 year old Uxmal vineyard. The winery was designed to embody the heritage and individuality of Mendoza’s wine country, while fulfilling Catena’s quest to place Argentine wines among the best in the world.