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
accordion plus icons
Acclaim
"It demonstrates great clarity on the nose with scents of dried honey, linden, crushed stone and dried white flowers. The palate is well-balanced with crisp acidity and is a taut, focused Chardonnay with lively notes of tangerine and quince towards the finish. This is well-crafted and complex for its price point."
— Neal Martin, Oct 2012
“Pale bright yellow. Sexy aromas and flavors of peach, apricot, brown spices and orange blossom, with complementary oak. Juicy and fresh, offering a captivating combination of ripe fruit and fresh acidity. Finishes nuanced, lively and persistent.”
— International Wine Cellar, Mar 2013
View more acclaim Arrow Right
accordion plus icons
Vineyard & Production Info
Vineyard name
The Domingo, La Pirámide, and Adrianna vineyards
Soil composition
Depending on site - sandy loam with round rocks, calcareous deposits and clay
Training method
VSP
Elevation:
3,117 - 4,757 feet
Vines/acre:
2200
Yield/acre:
2.5 - 3 tons tons
Exposure:
Northwestern
Year vineyard planted:
Various
Harvest time:
March - April
First vintage of this wine:
1991
accordion plus icons
Winemaking & Aging
Varietal composition:
100% Chardonnay
Fermentation container:
French oak barrels
Type of aging container:
Barriques
Size of aging container:
225 L
Type of oak:
French oak
Length of aging before bottling:
10 months, sur lies
Age of Aging Container:
35% New
Length of bottle aging:
12 months
accordion plus icons
Analytical Data
pH level:
3.21
Acidity:
6 g/L
Alcohol:
13.8 %