Catena Chardonnay

Catena Chardonnay bottle image

Wine Description

For over four generations, the Catena family has grown vines in the foothills of the Andes Mountains in Mendoza, Argentina. Laura Catena, great-granddaughter of winery founder Nicola Catena, has created a richly textured Chardonnay blend with floral notes, ripe tropical-fruit flavors, a strong mineral character and excellent acidity. Catena Chardonnay is sourced from three of the family´s vineyards in Luján de Cuyo and Tupungato. In Agrelo, in Luján de Cuyo, the La Pirámide Vineyard grapes lend the wine ripe citrus and stone fruit aromas and flavors. Fruit from the Domingo Vineyard in the Villa Bastías district of Tupungato emphasizes those stone fruit flavors and gives the wine its rich texture and mouthfeel. The high-altitude Adrianna Vineyard in the Gualtallary district of Tupungato produces grapes with lively floral notes, a pronounced minerality, and a crisp, cool-climate acidity. From the marriage of these historic parcels emerges a wine of a unique character that has natural balance, concentration, and a distinct varietal identity.

Remington-Mendoza
Laura Catena sits at a table with a glass of wine
Malbec Grapes
Alejandro Vigil (Chief Winemaker) and Laura Catena Tasting
Malbec Clone in La Piramide Vineyard
Nicolás Catena
Bodega Catena Zapata
Bodega Catena Zapata
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Acclaim
Aromas of buttered popcorn, pear, apple, and baking spices; impeccable balance, precision finish.
— Wine Advocate, Oct 2010
Bright yellow-gold. Pungent spices and a whiff of fresh mustard lift pineapple and stone fruit aromas. Sweet, supple and nicely concentrated, with slightly aggressive flavors of grapefruit, lemon cream and spices. Finishes long and tactile, with musky spices.
— International Wine Cellar, Feb 2011
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Vineyard & Production Info
Vineyard name
The Domingo, La Pirámide, and Adrianna vineyards
Soil composition
Sandy and loam
Training method
VSP
Elevation:
3,100 - 3,700 feet
Vines/acre:
2200
Yield/acre:
2 - 2.8 tons
Exposure:
Northwestern
Year vineyard planted:
Various
Harvest time:
March - April
First vintage of this wine:
1991
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Winemaking & Aging
Varietal composition:
100% Chardonnay
Fermentation container:
Stainless steel tanks & French oak barriques
Length of alcoholic fermentation:
33 days
Fermentation temperature:
64.4 °F
Maceration technique:
Battonage
Malolactic fermentation:
Yes
Type of aging container:
Barriques
Size of aging container:
225L
Type of oak:
French and American oak
Length of aging before bottling:
9 months sur lies
Age of Aging Container:
35% New
Length of bottle aging:
12 months
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Analytical Data
pH level:
3.21
Acidity:
6.1 g/L
Alcohol:
14.2 %