Chardonnay High Mountain Vines
2019
At heart, Catena is a story about family. Family who poured their lives, passion, and spirit into transforming scrub-laden desert into some of the most beautiful and unique vineyards in the world. Family that passed their knowledge from generation to generation, blending collective memory with state-of-the-art science from the new world of viticulture. Family who, through risk-taking, faith, and a little luck, transformed their treasured Mendoza terroir into the fountainhead of the...
See the CATENA detail page for more information on this brand
Through decades of study and exploration within Mendoza's high altitude mountain terroirs, the Catena family has identified special locations for its Estate vineyards. The grapes for this wine are sourced from four separate vineyards and harvested at different times.
Whole cluster pressed; fermented, sur lies, in barrels and stainless steel. Wild yeasts. Elevage: 10 months in French oak. Barrel selection varies depending on vineyard and vintage – First, Second and third use barrels used. 40% does not undergo malolactic fermentation.
Aromas of ripe pear and apple with soft tropical fruit and baking spices on the palate. A creamy, lengthy finish.
A pretty mineral nose with a creamy layer to the roasted pineapples, lemon and marzipan. Fresh and really textured on the palate with a medium to full body. It has a lightly phenolic, viscous texture and a bright acidity
See detailed press review
Fresh and creamy notes of pie crust, lemon curd and toast. Bright, juicy and elegant on the palate with a fluid, lengthy finish. A very good value here
See detailed press review
Catena 2020 Chardonnay is a bright, expressive Chard, full-bodied with ripe pear, citrus zest and toasted oak spice flavours on the palate. About 60% of the wine was aged in French oak barrels for 10 months while the remainder saw elevage in stainless-steel tanks. Wine grapes were sourced from four vineyards, 950 to 1,450 metres in elevation.
See detailed press review
Ripe peach, dried mango, dried jasmine and buttered toast. It’s full-bodied with crisp acidity. Concentrated layers of ripe and dried fruit and a vivid, subtly smoky finish.
See detailed press review
This is fresh and beautiful with creamy texture and lovely fruit. Medium body. Lemon rind and hints of pear. Crisp. Always a go-to white. Drink now.
See detailed press review
The 2020 Chardonnay Catena is 90% from the Uco Valley, fermented with whole bunches and aged for up to eight months in barrels. Yellow with a golden sheen. The expressive nose presents notes of linden blossom, apple, creamed corn and hazelnuts. In the mouth, it’s unctuous and indulgent but also has decent tension, a terse texture and long-lasting, bold flavors. The oak reappears on the rather concentrated aftertaste.
See detailed press review
The 2022 Catena Chardonnay is a medicinal and balsamic expression of the varietal, with aromas of bay leaf and white flowers. The palate is dry and medium-bodied with mellow acidity and moderate ripeness and alcohol.
See detailed press review
The medicinal and balsamic 2020 Catena Chardonnay has pungent aromas of bay leaf and white flowers and a dry and balanced palate with some chalky sensations and tasty flavors. It has moderate ripeness for a warm and dry year like 2020 and good freshness. 282,000 bottles produced. It was bottled between October and November 2020.
See detailed press review
This is the second of four levels of Chardonnay quality at Catena and it’s a very appealing blend of grapes from the Uco Valley and Agrelo. Aged in one-third new oak, with partial malolactic, it’s soft and creamy with toffee and honey flavours, some stone fruit sweetness and enough acidity to freshen and lift the finish.
See detailed press review