2021 Catena Zapata Angelica Zapata Alta Chardonnay, Mendoza

Sourced from San Carlos's Angélica Sur Vineyard, the 2021 Angelica Chardonnay was barrel fermented with judicious bâtonnage and matured for 12-16 months in predominately new French barrique. It leads with a vibrant, perfumed nose of honeysuckle and jasmine with herbal accents and a citrus-tinged lift. The palate strikes a midpoint between textural breadth and snappy energy, transitioning to a long, nuanced, layered finish defined by mineral tension and crystalline clarity.

It is difficult to avoid hyperbole when discussing the Catena family's impact on Argentine wine. It is the rare wine-producing country that can rightfully assign such an outsized contribution to the success of one producer that would propel the success of the wines of an entire nation. Equally remarkable is the relatively brief time scale on which such a global phenomenon has occurred, spanning just three generations from its founding in 1908.

The plethora of Catena bottlings ranges from entry-level, widely distributed supermarket SKUs to site-specific gems under the Catena Zapata heading. Their relentless progress and expansion have occurred alongside a parallel endeavor to utilize science for terroir analysis, viticultural planning and winemaking practices through the Catena Wine Institute. Among others, their analysis of Gualtallary's Adrianna Vineyard exemplifies the importance of an informed perspective on terroir, central to closing the gap between the merely good and truly great wines of the world. Catena occupies a remarkably rare position in the wine world as a producer that can be aptly described as both a juggernaut and an artisanal, intentional student of their vineyards.

Winemaking director Alejandro Vigil is a bona fide celebrity winemaker—locally referred to as "The Messi of Wine"—and judging by the two hours I spent walking the Chachingo wine fair with him, the fandom I observed must be comparable to strolling a music trade show in the presence of Mick Jagger. Perhaps most impressive of all is the grace, care and unadulterated passion for wine that he relentlessly displays. As for the wines themselves, his reputation precedes him at each turn and each price point: as referential as the famed Parcelas bottlings from Adrianna Vineyard undoubtedly are, the entry-level Catena wines struck me as nearly equally impressive in their own right, each precisely summarizing their varieties and origins with equally yolked precision across the range.

94 points robertparkerker.com

The Catena Zapata Angélica Zapata Alta Chardonnay from Mendoza is a richly layered and expressive white that showcases the heights Argentina can achieve with this classic variety. Named after Nicolás Catena Zapata’s mother, the Angélica range represents wines of elegance and depth sourced from high-altitude vineyards. The Chardonnay is drawn from carefully selected parcels in Tupungato, in the Uco Valley, where the combination of cool nights, intense sunlight and chalky soils produces fruit of remarkable concentration and freshness.

In the glass it is pale gold with green reflections. The bouquet is generous yet refined, opening with white peach, pear and citrus zest, layered with hints of pineapple, hazelnut, vanilla and a touch of flinty minerality. On the palate it is full-bodied and textural, with ripe stone fruit and lemon curd flavours balanced by creamy oak and a fine acid backbone. The finish is long and elegant, combining richness with refreshing precision, a hallmark of Mendoza’s high-altitude style.

Food pairings highlight its depth and balance: lobster with lemon butter, roast chicken with tarragon, seared scallops, or mushroom risotto. It also pairs beautifully with creamy cheeses such as brie or camembert. With 8 to 10 years of cellaring potential, it develops nutty, honeyed layers while retaining vibrancy and drive.