2021 Catena Zapata Adrianna White Bones Chardonnay, Mendoza

The 2021 White Bones Chardonnay was harvested at two different points of ripeness and then blended into the final wine, which is subtler than the explosive 2020 I tasted next to it but with the same palette of aromas—thyme, rosemary, lavender, rockrose, white flowers, citrus, pine needles, incense, curry and spices—and the palate is seamless, mineral and with a chalky texture. It’s brilliant and expresses the variety, vintage and soil perfectly, but today I give the edge to the 2020, which I think transcends the vintage.

98+ points Luis Gutiérrez robertparker.com Dec 2022 Drink 2023-2031

What an exotic, perfumed yet elegant nose here full of thyme, local herbs, green papaya, ginger and green curry. Lemon grass and lime zest. So fresh and elegant on the palate with a chalky texture to the center-palate. Really transparent, subtle, quiet and long. A unique chardonnay from a cool and elegant vintage, but intense and idiosyncratic. Unique to the landscape.

99 points jamessuckling.com April 2023 Drink now or hold

The 2021 Catena Zapata Adrianna Vineyard White Bones Chardonnay is a high-altitude, limestone-laced masterpiece from the Gualtallary subregion of Mendoza’s Uco Valley. Crafted by one of Argentina’s most visionary wine families, this Chardonnay speaks more of white Burgundy than New World exuberance. It's grown in the Adrianna Vineyard, a site perched at nearly 1,500 metres above sea level, named after Nicolás Catena’s daughter and considered one of the most studied vineyard plots in the world due to its complex soil composition and microclimate.

The "White Bones" name refers to the ancient fossilised marine deposits found in the soil—relics of a time when the Andes were submerged under the sea. These calcareous soils contribute to the wine’s distinct mineral tension and purity. Winemaker Alejandro Vigil coaxes every ounce of character from the fruit with a deft hand: fermentation with indigenous yeasts in seasoned oak barrels, followed by ageing on lees for added texture and complexity.In the glass, the 2021 is razor-sharp and profoundly layered. Notes of yuzu, flint, chamomile, white flowers and crushed stone leap from the glass, with subtle almond, fennel and saline undertones unfolding over time. The palate is coiled and electric, with laser-like acidity that cuts through its generous mouthfeel, giving the wine both elegance and precision. It finishes with a chalky, savoury length that lingers for minutes.This is a wine that demands contemplation and rewards cellaring. It pairs beautifully with grilled lobster, roast chicken with tarragon butter, or a rich mushroom fricassée. It will cellar effortlessly for 10 to 15 years, growing in complexity as it evolves.