Winemaker Notes
Beautiful pale-gold color with enticing aromas of lemon crème, baking spices and some notes of dulce de leche. The aromas carry through to the palate, and are joined by hints of tropical fruit, spiced baked pear, and a stony mineral flavor that creates a stylish wine that seems part New and part Old World.
Professional Ratings
-
James Suckling
A very textured chardonnay here with a subtle creamy layer to the lemon zest and minerals, with just a hint of herbs. Chalky and fresh on the palate with really attractive green fruit. Drink or hold.
-
Vinous
The 2022 Chardonnay G-Lot originates from Gualtallary in the Uco Valley. It was aged in 80% French oak barrels, a quarter of them new. Yellow with a golden sheen. The nose presents basil and green apple aromas, complemented by hints of creamed corn and oak. The palate delivers a plush, indulgent experience, with a fresh, somewhat aqueous texture contributing to the elegant, easy-going mouthfeel.
-
Wine Enthusiast
This well-structured Chardonnay has a balanced mix of fruit and baking spices that make it enjoyable from start to finish. The nose displays aromas of lime and honey. It has energy on the creamy palate, backing flavors of apricot and lemons along with vanilla and honey.
Laura Catena is a fourth generation winemaker who grew up in a traditional Argentine-Italian winemaking family in Mendoza. Laura splits her time between Mendoza and San Francisco, California, where she is an emergency physician, university professor and occasional tango dancer. Laura had the vision of creating a new breed of Argentine wines: small quantities, artisan quality, and true to their individual terroirs. A pioneer of small-grower relations in Mendoza, Laura's incredible, limited production wines come from some of Argentina's best fruit from low-yield, high-elevation, family-owned vineyards. The wines are named after her children - Luca, Dante and Nicola - and symbolize her love for her family. The background of the label is the McDermott coat of arms of her American husband, Daniel McDermott.
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.
With a winning combination of cool weather, high elevation and well-draining alluvial soils, it is no surprise that Mendoza’s Uco Valley is one of the most exciting up-and-coming wine regions in Argentina. Healthy, easy-to-manage vines produce low yields of high-quality fruit, which in turn create flavorful, full-bodied wines with generous acidity.
This is the source of some of the best Malbec in Mendoza, which can range from value-priced to ultra-premium. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay also perform well here.