2022 Catena Zapata Adrianna White Bones Chardonnay Magnum 1.5L, Mendoza

This is always aromatic, exotic and idiosyncratic, with its enchanting aromas of green fruit, green curry, citrus, ash, green passion fruit and spearmint. Almost full-bodied on the palate with lots of mineral tension. Bright acidity quickly takes over, followed by a long, bone-dry finish that goes on and on. So pure, unique and thought-provoking. Drink Now +

100 points Zekun Shuai jamessuckling.com

Sourced from a parcel of the Adrianna Vineyard in Gualtallary, planted at 1,450 meters, the 2022 Chardonnay Adrianna Vineyard White Bones delivers a distinctive flavor. Crafted in a cool, sunny vintage, the chalky soils of Gualtallary lend a compact character to this high-altitude Chardonnay. Yellow in hue, it opens with aromas of hops, ivy and pea shoots, accompanied by hints of mint, sage, ginger and lime. Slightly concentrated, with vibrant energy and tension, it offers a blend of chalky texture, elevated acidity and a compact yet graceful palate. It lingers with long-lasting flavors and a subtly malic texture. This mountain white wine set a benchmark in 2009 and reaffirmed it in 2022. Drink 2024-2034.

98 points Joaquín Hidalgo vinous.com

Perennially one of Argentina's most aromatically distinctive wines, the 2022 Adrianna Vineyard Chardonnay White Bones opens with its signature extroverted profile of resinous herbs, ginger and dried white flower aromas with an exotic touch of curry leaf from its biological élevage. The palate is broad, textural and weightlessly rich, exuding more body and understated power than its dramatically incisive White Stone counterpart. It culminates in a slow-moving, swelling finish that gradually gains dimension, energy and verticality with further aeration. This is a singular and definitive reference point for Argentine Chardonnay

98 points Matthew Luczy robertparker.com

From an extreme high-altitude, grand cru-level site in the cools of Gualtallary, the 2022 Chardonnay Adrianna Vineyard White Bones is distinct in its aromas of the native jumilla that surround the site, providing an herbal, earthy invitation to the light-bodied, refined palate of gravelly texture and minerality. Light and ethereal in style, it shows its limestone roots, and just a hint of oak, given 12-16 months of aging in oak barrel, all second, third, or fourth use. This wine practically buzzes in the glass with elegance and verve. Another 20 years of aging is not unrealistic. An outstanding wine! Drink 2025-2045.

98 points jebdunnuck.com

From Gualtallary Monasterio. White Bones refers to Block 1 of the family’s Adrianna vineyard, where the soils are layered with calcareous deposits and limestone as well as fossilised animal bones. This wine goes through cold settling for 10–24 hours at less than 6 °C to extract aromas. The juice is then fermented for around 45–95 days. Biological ageing under a veil of flor. Élevage: 12–16 months in 100% oak barrel of second, third and fourth use.
If there’s one Chardonnay that you could easily spot blind in a line-up, it is Catena Zapata’s White Bones. There is an unmistakable note of lemon and lavender on the nose, which is quite unlike any other. In the palate, there is a delicious chalkiness and elegant, fine finish with vibrant acidity and slight tang from partial biological ageing. This vintage shows wonderful concentration yet poise. Stellar stuff. (AB)

19/20 Amanda Barnes MW jancisrobinson.com

Catena Zapata Adrianna White Bones Chardonnay from Mendoza is a distinctive high-altitude Chardonnay, crafted from the renowned Adrianna Vineyard in the Uco Valley’s Gualtallary subregion. Planted at 4,757 feet above sea level, the Adrianna Vineyard is revered for its extreme terroir, where limestone-rich soils in the White Bones parcel create a wine with remarkable minerality and complexity. The White Bones Chardonnay is named for the fossil-rich soils found in this parcel, which impart a unique character and textural depth to the wine, reflecting the Catena family’s commitment to exploring Mendoza’s diverse terroirs.

Winemaker Alejandro Vigil applies a meticulous approach to crafting White Bones Chardonnay, employing hand-harvesting and wild yeast fermentation to preserve the purity of the fruit. Aged in French oak, the wine is further enhanced by its time on the lees, which adds layers of texture without overpowering the vibrant acidity and minerality of the Chardonnay.

In the glass, Catena Zapata Adrianna White Bones Chardonnay presents aromas of white peach, lemon blossom, and flint, with underlying hints of chamomile and spice. The palate is elegant and layered, showcasing flavors of citrus, green apple, and a touch of saline minerality, supported by a crisp acidity. The finish is long and complex, with a mineral backbone that captures the essence of the Adrianna Vineyard. This Chardonnay exemplifies the finesse and intensity of high-altitude winemaking in Mendoza.

For over four generations, the Catena family has grown vines in the foothills of the Andes Mountains in Mendoza, Argentina. In his pursuit to make wines that stand with the best in the world, Nicolás Catena identified the best lots and rows, in the Catena family’s estate vineyards.

The Adrianna vineyard is located at almost 5,000’ elevation in the Gualtallary sub-district of the Tupungato region. White Bones Chardonnay comes from select rows within Block 1 of the Adrianna Vineyard. The name refers to the soil underneath these rows, which is layered with calcareous deposits and limestone as well as fossilized animal bones - remnants of a river that used to pass through the region.

There are many theories about why the grapes coming from these rows have such distinctive floral aromatics with an earthy minerality in the nose and palate. It may be related to the minerals in the soil or to the effects that the calcareous deposits have on root penetration.

At this extreme high altitude, the nights are cool, only a few degrees above freezing even in the summer. The night-day temperature difference is between 15 and 20 degrees. And the sunlight is more intense because of the altitude.